This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Fisheries appointments
27/02/2003
Three new appointments to the Fisheries (Electricity)
Committee, an Advisory Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB)
were announced today.
The function of the Committee is to advise and assist
Scottish Ministers, and any person engaging in, or
proposing to engage in, the generation of hydro-electric
power, on any questions relating to the effect on fisheries
or stocks of fish.
The new appointments are:
Chairman:James Cockburn is a highly experienced
Chartered Civil Engineer acting as a part-time independent
consultant and advisor on water industry issues. He is both
a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and of the
Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental
Management. Mr Cockburn is Deputy Convenor of Water
Customer Consultation Panel for North West Scotland. He
currently serves as a Non-executive Board member and Chair
of the Audit Committee, Cromarty Firth Port Authority and
as a member of the North Regional Board of SEPA. Mr
Cockburn has not been politically active in the last five
years.
Dr W. Gary Anderson is currently a named
Postdoctoral Research Fellow at St Andrews University. He
is also Deputy curator and Named Animal Care and Welfare
Officer (NACWO) for the UK Home Office licensed aquarium
facility at the Gatty Marine Laboratory. He has experience
of designing, testing and monitoring fish protection
systems that facilitate down-stream and up-stream fish
migration. Dr Anderson has not been politically active in
the last five years.
Dr David T. Crisp has had a long and
active career in fisheries research. He is currently
retired, working part-time as a freelance consultant. He is
a Fellow of the Institute of Biology, a member of the
Institute's "Register of Environmental Biologists", and is
also the British Ecological Society's "Environmental
Spokesman". Dr Crisp is a member of the Regional Fisheries,
Ecology & Recreation Advisory Committee, EA North East
Region. He is also a co-opted member of the Advisory
Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (to SNH).
He is published in numerous journals and is the author of a
recent book on the ecology, conservation and restoration of
trout and salmon. Dr Crisp has not been politically active
in the last five years.
Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister
Allan Wilson said:
"I am pleased to announce the appointment of these new
members, who I am sure will bring to the Fisheries
Committee their own considerable knowledge and
expertise.
"The recent introduction of the Renewables Obligation
(Scotland) and the forthcoming Water Environment and Water
Services (Scotland) Bill will ensure that this is a busy
period for the Committee, and I am pleased that it has such
a capable membership."
The appointments were made in accordance with the Code
of Practice issued by the Office of the Commissioner for
Public Appointments.
Members of the Fisheries Committee are appointed under
the terms of the Electricity Act 1989. The function of the
Committee is to advise and assist Scottish Ministers, and
any person engaging in, or proposing to engage in, the
generation of hydro-electric power, on any questions
relating to the effect on fisheries or stocks of fish.
3. The Committee is independent in its proceedings and
may investigate, or advise on, matters at its own
initiative or when requested to do so.
4. The main purpose of the Committee is to consider
proposals for new hydro-electric schemes over one megawatt
in capacity, with a view to advising how damage to
fisheries or fish stocks might best be avoided or
mitigated, and make any necessary recommendations.
5. The Committee can also advise on smaller hydro
schemes as well as the effects of the water systems of
thermal generating stations.
6. The Committee meets throughout the year, including
meetings with the generating companies and others with an
interest in hydro-electric development and its potential
impact on fish and fisheries.
7. The new members have each been appointed for a period
of four years, till 31 March 2007, with the possibility of
renewal dependent on performance. Appointments are
part-time and unpaid.