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Organic Annual Report
Organic Aquaculture
6.1 In the "
Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture", published in March 2003 the Executive committed itself to supporting an aquaculture industry that is sustainable, diverse and competitive. Future sectoral growth will be contingent on the industry continuing to be responsive to the market, to retailer requirements on quality assurance and to consumer demand for healthy products which are safety assured and which offer good value for money. Scotland's potential for differentiated products, premium brands and niche marketing opportunities can certainly be further developed. The report recognised that the industry is capable of achieving premium and value-adding opportunities in the market by delivering branded differentiation and niche products such as organic, but it will need to work with the relevant public sector bodies to enhance the potential of its brands and the associated product quality standards.
6.2 The Soil Association's aquaculture standards development programme began in May 2003 and employs a part-time Development Director and a full-time Development Manager. The programme has one-year funding from the Scottish Executive (through FIFG), HIE, HC, Orkney Salmon Company and the Fishmonger's Guild. Its aim is to develop organic standards for fish and shellfish farming, and to open up the markets in Europe by harmonising different national organic standards for these products.
6.3 The Soil Association currently certifies 18 salmon and trout hatcheries and farms in the UK, supplying the market with about 3,500 tonnes of organic salmon and 350 tonnes of trout.
6.4 The interactions between farmed and wild fish, use of wild caught fish for feed and the addition of nutrients to the environment through waste feed and faeces is an issue that is currently being considered by the Soil Association who are also in the early stages of developing organic standards for other species. Organic mussel standards have been drafted and standards for cod are being considered.
6.5 The Soil Association has had on-going contact with the Scottish Executive and other key stakeholders regarding the Aquaculture Development programme.
Membership of the Organic Stakeholders Group
Nick Cooke, Scottish Organic Producers Association
Brian Kaye, Scottish Organic Producers Association
Carey Coombs, Soil Association
Lynn Matheson, Soil Association
David Younie, Senior Organic Farming Specialist, Scottish Agricultural College
Ceri Ritchie, Rural Business & Marketing Group Manager, Scottish Agricultural College
Craig Campbell, National Farmers' Union Scotland
Timothy Brink, Bio-Dynamic Agriculture Association
Christine Manson, Simply Organic
Belinda Mitchell, Simply Organic
Donna Heaney, Scottish Consumer Council
Lisa Schneidau, Scottish Environment Link
Susan Beattie, Scottish Enterprise
Kara Brydson, Scottish Food & Drink
Alastair Sim, Scottish Executive Environment & Rural Affairs Department
Robin McKendrick, Scottish Executive Environment & Rural Affairs Deaprtment
John Wilson, Scottish Executive Environment & Rural Affairs Department
Gillian Kynoch, Scottish Executive, Health Education and Scottish Diet Action Plan
Ian Thomson, Scottish Executive Environment & Rural Affairs Department
Jonathan Ross, Scottish Executive Finance & Central Services Department
Rosi Waterhouse, Scottish Executive Environment & Rural Affairs Department
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