« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
2. INTRODUCTION
The Surface Waters (Shellfish)(Classification)(Scotland) Regulations 1997 and the associated Surface Waters (Shellfish)(Scotland) Directions 1997 set the standards which apply to Scottish shellfish waters in accordance with the SWD, adopted by the European Commission in December 2006 which replaced the Shellfish Waters Directive 79/923 EEC. As a result of the adoption of this new Directive, the Surface Waters (Shellfish)(Scotland) Directions 1997, which contain the guideline values of the SWD, will be remade in the near future.
The aim of this legislation is to protect the water quality where shellfish are growing, and ultimately, to protect the health of shellfish consumers. The Directive aims at securing favourable conditions for shellfish farmers in all the European Union's Member states in a fair and equal manner, by providing protection for water quality and public health. Member states are required to designate appropriate waters within their territory and to put specific measures in place to maintain and improve the quality of these designated waters to specific standards, as detailed in the Directive.
The last designation round took place in 2005, and we are aware that since then, shellfish production in Scotland has increased, and the industry has continued to expand. Overall production of farmed shellfish in Scotland rose by 37 % from 3,350 tonnes in 2001, to 4,594 tonnes in 2006. Mussel production in particular, has showed an increase of 41%, from 2,988 tonnes in 2001 to 4,219 tonnes in 2006. There are also some new sites which are not in designated waters.
At present the Scottish Government monitors where shellfish production takes place, then designates the sites, which leads to investment to improve water quality. Another way of handling this would be for the Government, in conjunction with SEPA, to identify areas of water believed to already meet the standards in the SWD, and to designate those areas as being suitable waters. As well as being more cost-effective (costs to Scottish Water would be minimal or non-existent, although there could potentially be some monitoring costs for SEPA) this may also have the benefit of the regeneration and support of rural economies.
« Previous | Contents | Next »