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DELIVERY
A Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture has been in place since 2003. It identified 33 Priority Actions (3 more were added in 2005) which would help deliver a sustainable industry in Scotland. Over the last 5 years, progress on these 36 priority actions has been monitored and reported quarterly to the Ministerial Working Group ( MWGA).
Whilst widely acknowledged as having achieved a great deal, the Strategic Framework, its Action Plan review process and the structure of the MWGA have been criticised in recent years for lack of flexibility, particularly as some actions were delivered quickly but not built upon.
A New Approach
This Renewed Strategic Framework will adopt a different approach in which MWGA drives progress, rather than simply being a body which receives reports and tracks progress. It will also generate a flexible list of priority actions that will remain current, be regularly reviewed and reprioritised as appropriate. Work-streams will flow through the five identified key themes (Health; Planning, Consents, and Sites; Containment; Markets, Marketing and Image and Finance) and be directed by MWGA.
It is proposed that MWGA will convene biannually and the meeting will comprise of three sessions:
- review and reporting back on progress;
- discussions on current issues; and
- agreement/reprioritisation of priority actions for the next 6 months.
Guided by this overarching Renewed Strategic Framework document, the group will identify the immediate priorities within each theme and agree actions. Each theme will have a 'champion' who sits on MWGA and will have responsibility for ensuring that agreed actions, within their theme are being progressed.
These may include task-specific workshops which co-opt specialists/experts and stakeholders with a relevant interest. MWGA could also draw on existing stakeholder groups to help delivery such as the Aquaculture Health Joint Working Group. The already-established Expert Group on sites could be used as a model. There may also be a requirement for a specific task force to deal with cross-cutting shellfish issues.
Reporting Back and Review
Champions will report back to MWGA on progress at every meeting. Again, this may include specialist/expert feed back to the group on a specific issue as necessary. Following progress reporting, the group will consider current and emerging issues before agreeing an updated plan of actions within each theme. Action plans will be reviewed against this document to ensure they are delivering the desired outcomes agreed in the Framework and will be re-evaluated and refocused as and when necessary. There will also be flexibility to accommodate emerging important issues. It is envisaged that MWGA will steer aquaculture policy and be a prime mover for a proposed, wider Aquaculture Forum. This will allow for stakeholder input to ensure the actions remain relevant and accommodate new issues of concern which may arise or if there is a lack of progress.
An update on progress and any newly agreed priorities will also be published on the Scottish Government website after each meeting and issued to stakeholders.
A Refocused MWGA
Following this consultation, new terms of reference for membership and remit of MWGA will be drawn up. A wider Aquaculture Forum will also be established. A first meeting of the refocused MWGA will be convened after the consultation period, at which the terms of reference will be agreed. This will provide an opportunity for the group to agree the first action plans of priorities to be tackled under the Renewed Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture. A mechanism will be put in place to measure progress and this will be further explored as the action plans develop. It is hoped that this new flexible and more dynamic approach will allow the process to remain fresh to tackle current issues.
It is our aim that the Renewed Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture should be drawn up collaboratively and be informed, developed and agreed by all those who have an interest in aquaculture and in the communities and environment in which the industry operates.
By the end of this process, we will have a Renewed Strategic Framework in place that will be flexible and sufficiently robust to take Scottish aquaculture forward to the next stage in its development. It will retain the relevant elements of the current Framework, with new elements to reflect developing circumstances.
HELP US SHAPE THE FUTURE
Scottish Ministers want an aquaculture industry in Scotland that is ambitious, thriving, growing, diverse and profitable. Growth must be sustainable - economically, socially and environmentally. The industry will support and underpin communities and must also operate within the carrying capacity of the environment. It must act as a good neighbour to all who share the aquatic environment, who, in turn, must accept the industry as a responsible member of their community.
In essence, we should have profitable aquaculture businesses which make best sustainable use of our aquatic resource and underpin a peopled landscape of Scotland.
There is a future for finfish and shellfish aquaculture in Scotland.
How do we get there and what will it look like?
We want your views on how to achieve this.
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