The Scottish Government

Framework for Scottish Aquaculture

A Fresh Start - The renewed Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture was launched by Roseanna Cunningham - Minister for Environment at a Scottish Parliamentary Debate on 21 May 2009.

The renewed framework is based on five themes:

• Healthier farmed fish and shellfish (including the development of an integrated strategy to control sea lice);
• Improved systems for licensing aquaculture developments;
• Improved containment;
• Better marketing and improved image;
• Improved access to finance

The Framework will also focus on smarter regulation; make best use of science, research and development; and be driven by a refocused Ministerial Group on Aquaculture - which will be established in summer 2009.

The Framework has been developed through wide stakeholder involvement and public engagement from the outset. This included a Ministerial letter to aquaculture stakeholders, bilateral meetings with stakeholder groups, and public roadshows in Inverness, Oban, Scalloway and Stornoway. The consultation was also informed by aquaculture industry workshops in Inverary, a salmon 'fresh start summit' in Edinburgh and a shellfish growers' workshop in Oban.

An Expert group on sites was established in 2008 to make recommendations to MWGA which will inform the licensing theme of the renewed strategic framework.

A Draft Fresh Start for Scottish Aquaculture was also subject to a full 12 week public consultation which closed on 5 November 2008. The "Fresh Start" document was also subject to Scottish Parliamentary debate on 20 November 2008.

Non-confidential responses were published on the SG website on 23 December 2008.

An analysis of responses was published in May 2009.

A Fresh Start replaces A Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture, which was published in March 2003 and provided a set of parameters, within which the industry could develop sustainably, balancing socio-economic benefits against environmental impacts.

Further information on the previous Strategic Framework can be found here.