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You said that removing dead fish is part of everyday management. Would the removal of dead fish in that manner be carried out before an inspection from the fish health inspectorate, or would the fish health inspectorate be there to inspect the removal, to confirm farm mortality rates?

Thank you. We move to theme 6, which is fish health and animal welfare.

Kimberley McKinnell indicated that she wanted to come in on the back of Rachael Hamilton’s previous question.

Please make it brief.

Briefly, what technological improvements are being made to marine cages, to address some of the escape issues?

If Emma Roddick has some specific points and she would like to go over them again—

You can continue, Dr Bickerdike.

Our final theme is planning consent, on which Emma Harper will kick off the questions.

Emma, do you have a question about migratory routes?

We are aware that the potential exists for salmon farms to be sited further offshore in the future, which will reduce some of the environmental impacts that have been set out during today’s session. That will lead to the need for more automation, because of how uncomfortable it will be for humans to operate further out to sea. How can it be ensured that the welfare of fish is maintained if additional automation is required to enable fish health and wellbeing to continue to be monitored?