The Scottish Government

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7. Relationships with other organisations

During the year the Committee held meetings with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish National Heritage, the Association of Salmon Fisheries Boards and divisions of the Scottish Executive on matters of common interest. The Committee also met with and was in correspondence with a number of District Salmon Fishery Boards.

7.1 The Committee has continued discussions with the Energy and Telecommunications Division in order to ensure that the Committee's recommendations on proposed hydro-electric schemes are better reflected in the Ministerial letters of consent. The Committee has also been in discussions with the Division about the interpretation of the circumstances in which Section 36 consent should be sought by an operator in relation to the modification of existing schemes.

7.2 The Committee is involved in on-going discussions with the Water Environment Division and the Fisheries and Rural Development Group in order to clarify further the implications of the upcoming Controlled Activities Regulations under the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003. Such liaison in advance of the drafting of the Regulations is important to ensure that the statutory role of the Committee is not compromised, whilst ensuring where possible, the statutory processes under the Regulations and the Committee's own remit do not duplicate each other.

7.3 During the year, dialogue has taken place between the Committee and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in relation to a number of proposed schemes and more general aspects associated with the flow requirements of fish and fisheries.

7.4 Liaison has taken place with Scottish Natural Heritage on a number of proposed and existing schemes during the year. Discussions have also taken place regarding the need for a greater understanding of the flow requirements for fish and fisheries in a Scottish context.

7.5 The Committee had a useful discussion with the Association's Director on matters of mutual interest including, particularly, implications arising from the implementation, in Scotland, of the Water Framework Directive.

7.6 During the year, the Committee has corresponded with and held meetings with District Salmon Fishery Boards in relation to specific schemes. The Committee encourages operators and developers to have proactive dialogue with the District Boards.

7.7 The Committee continues to be concerned at inconsistencies in the quality of fish survey data submitted in support of new hydro-schemes and, in the course of the year, dialogue has taken place with SFCC concerning the latter's data collection protocols. The Committee looks forward to further discussions with SFCC on this issue

7.8 The Committee is in discussions with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, Fisheries Research Services, the Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER) and the Fisheries and Rural Development Group regarding the need for substantial research effort to be focused on establishing the flow regimes required for fish and fisheries in a Scottish context. To date, in-stream flow requirements associated with hydro-electric schemes focus largely on establishing compensation flows or flows to be maintained in the watercourse during dry weather. The Committee is increasingly concerned that little attention is given to establishing the needs of fish and fisheries across the whole flow range, and in particular the value of spates and medium to high flows in relation to sediment movement, hydromorphology and hence fisheries habitat. Work of such a nature has been carried out in North America and a priori methods have been available for many years within England. However work has yet to be carried out to establish whether these or other methodologies might be appropriate in a Scottish context.

7.9 The Committee continues to encourage operators and developers to carry out data collection and research associated with the impact of hydro-electric schemes on fish and fisheries. The Committee appreciates the fish count data with which it is provided in relation to some hydro-electric schemes. The Committee particularly encourages on-going monitoring after commissioning of schemes so that operators can demonstrate whether or not the schemes impact on fish or fisheries and where necessary make appropriate modifications.

7.10 The Committee itself keeps abreast of developments and has attended a number of scientific meetings and seminars during the year.

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