Minutes of the 16th meeting of the Freshwater Fisheries Forum Steering Group held in Conference Room No.2, The Scottish Agricultural Science Agency Building, 1 Roddinglaw Road, Edinburgh EH22 9FJ on 2 May 2007
In attendance:
Gordon Brown - SEERAD (Chairman)
Richard Slaski - SEERAD
David Dunkley - SEERAD
Stuart Baxter - SEERAD
Manson Wright - SEERAD
Christine McGregor - SEERAD
Donna Easterlow - SEERAD
Andy Dailly - SEERAD
Val Lusk - SEERAD
Mabel McDowall - SEERAD (Secretariat)
Andrew Wallace - Association of Salmon Fishery Boards
Brian Davidson - Association of Salmon Fishery Boards
Jonathan Swift - Association of Scottish Stillwater Fisheries
Roger Brook - Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland
Sarah Bayley - Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland
Seymour Monro - Atlantic Salmon Trust
David Bassett - British Trout Association
Willie Miller - Consultative Committee on Protection Orders
Peter Maitland - Fish Conservation Centre
John Armstrong - Fisheries Research Services
Trevor Hastings - Fisheries Research Services
Alastair Stephen - Institute of Fisheries Management
George Holdsworth - Salmon and Trout Association
Willie Shearer - Salmon Net Fishing Association of Scotland
Walter Davidson - Salmon Net Fishing Association of Scotland
Ian Calcott - Scottish Anglers National Association
John Hood - Scottish Disabled Anglers Association
Ron Woods - Scottish Federation for Coarse Angling
Sarah Hutcheon - Scottish Natural Heritage
Miranda Lindsay - Scottish Rural Property and Business Association
1. Introduction
The Chairman welcomed the Steering Group (SG) members and also welcomed Sarah Hutcheon from SNH back to the group, Ian Calcott from SANA, who was standing in for Ronnie Picken, Walter Davidson from the Salmon Net Fishing Association of Scotland and Valerie Lusk from SEERAD
2. Apologies:
Roger Brook - RAFTS, Ronnie Picken - SANA, Dafydd Evans - Bob Ritchie - SNFAS
3. Minutes of the Previous Meeting
Minutes have been agreed electronically and posted on the web site.
4. Matters Arising
4.1 Gs update
The public awareness campaign, which was launched on 5 March, by Jack Charlton, received widespread media coverage including slot on BBC Reporting Scotland. Leaflets have been sent out to fishery bodies and VisitScotland and a separate Gs website has also been launched ( www.infoscotland.com/gsbug ). In association with the ASFB, a list of companies that offer fishing holidays is being compiled with a view to sending them copies of the new leaflet and disinfection declaration form. These can be included in literature sent out to anglers coming from Gs infected countries or UK anglers returning from infected countries.
In the light of the Gs exercise held in February, the Contingency Plan has been amended. A meeting of the Gs Task Force was held on 21 March and some further changes to the plan were agreed. Minor pagination changes are now required, then the revised plan will be circulated to those attending the Gs exercise and posted on the SE website.
Meetings are being arranged with Airport, Port, and Ferry Terminal bodies to encourage them to display Gs material.
4.2 Deeside Project
Deeside Project Briefing Paper
The briefing paper was circulated to members and posted on the SE website.
Pilot Project
Possible candidacy for inclusion as a pilot project for all species management was discussed, but no decision has yet been reached. SEERAD, the Dee and other partners will continue to liaise.
Dee Joint Management Group Volunteer
Members agreed that Andrew Wallace would represent the SG on the Dee Joint Management Group.
4.3 Framework Plan
Research Priorities and the production of a briefing document were discussed under item 6 on the agenda.
4.4 Freshwater Fisheries Forum
Members were advised that the Forum would be held on 25 September 2007 at the National Piping Centre, 30-34 McPhater Street, Cowcaddens, Glasgow G4 0HW
5 Regulating the Introduction of Fish in Inland Waters
Stuart Baxter presented paper SFFF SG 16-01 and provided members with a summary of the work carried out to date. He explained about the damaging environmental consequences of the introduction of non-native species and gave an overview of existing legislation and the new legal powers that were introduced in the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007.
He provided a variety of options for processing applications; estimates of the cost involved and outlined the sort of information that would be required from applicants.
The presentation was followed by a general discussion and a short question and answer session. The main concerns/points raised are as follows:
- Fish Health/disease checks
- Transfer of fish between tributaries
- Within catchment genetics (all species)
- Spread of alien species
- Stocking policies
- Promotion of good practice
- Clarification of existing Legislation
- The need for active liaison with SEERAD Aquaculture Health and Welfare Branch
- Water Framework Directive implications
- Problems in Fishery Districts where no DSFB exists
- Enforcement/illegal stocking
- Record keeping/administration of the scheme/paper based or electronic
Members were asked to provide written comments to Stuart Baxter and also to suggest a suitable commencement date for the new system.
Action - SG members to provide written comments to Stuart Baxter by 18/5.
Stuart advised that he proposed to set up a working group to tease out issues and would be in touch with SG members in due course.
Action - Stuart Baxter to contact SG members regarding the setting up of a working group to look at issues.
6. Framework Plan
The group were, once again, thanked for all their hard work and for the constructive comments and corrections that had been notified since the previous meeting. These have been incorporated into the draft document which was circulated prior to the meeting.
The group were also provided with a short summary of the main points that had been raised and provided with a list of research priorities for discussion. They were advised that after today's meeting that a final draft will be produced which would incorporate comments and suggestions from today's meeting. A briefing document will also be produced and it was the intention that both these documents would be circulated to SG members by the end of May.
Members should then circulate the documents to their own members and colleagues and provide feedback to SEERAD by the end of July. The next step would to launch the Framework Plan at the Forum on 25 September, followed by a 3-month public consultation (subject to agreement from the new Minister). Regional road shows would be incorporated as part of the consultation process and if all goes well it was proposed the launch of the framework should take place in spring 2008.
The group were advised that SEERAD/Richard Slaski would be involved in carrying out a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and also an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) of the framework. SG members may be asked for assistance and will be contacted as necessary.
Members were then invited to make comments/amendments on the document and these have been recorded separately and passed to Richard Slaski for incorporation into the plan.
The group were also asked to let Richard Slaski have a note of any additional research priorities by 23 May.
Action - SG members to provide Richard Slaskiwith a note of any additional research priorities by 23 May.
The Chairman advised the group that the final draft version of the Framework Plan will be shown to the new Minister and that hopefully he/she would be invited to attend the September Forum.
7. AOB
7.1 Additional SG Meeting
The Chairman suggested that it would be useful to have another meeting before the September Forum and it was agreed that a further meeting would be held at SASA on 23 August.
Action - Secretary to book the conference room as SASA.
7.2 Research
It was requested that research for next year be put on the agenda for the next meeting.
Action - Secretary to put the item on the agenda for the meeting on 23 August.
The chairman advised that this would be Christine McGregor's last meeting and thanked her for all her input to the Framework Plan.
The Chairman also advised that Bob Ritchie, one of the representatives from the Salmon Net Fishing Association of Scotland, had intimated that he would be retiring from the group. He said that Bob had been a valuable member of the group and that his input had been much appreciated. Both he and the rest of the group wished Bob well for the future. Walter Davidson will take Bob's place on the SG.
As this was also the Chairman's last meeting, he thanked members for their help and support during what he said had been a fascinating 3 years. He highlighted some of the achievements of the group as well as work that would come along in the future.
Andrew Wallace thanked the Chairman for bringing massive energy, humour and sense of fairness to the group and wished him well for the future. These sentiments were echoed by the group.
8 Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held at SASA on 23 August 2007.