- Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many escapes of farmed salmon have occurred in each year since 2018, broken down by location, and whether it can provide the total number of individual fish that have escaped.
Answer
Information held by the Scottish Government on fish farm escapes is available on Scotland’s Aquaculture Website at: Scotland's Aquaculture | Home .
- Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many finfish aquaculture sites have (a) been closed, (b) had their licence withdrawn and (c) surrendered their licence since 2018, and for what reason.
Answer
The following data relates to information held by the Scottish Government on Aquaculture Production Businesses (APB) and authorisation to operate under regulation 6 of the Aquatic Animal Health (Scotland) Regulations 2009 for animal health purposes only.
How many finfish aquaculture sites have (a) been closed and (c) surrendered their licence since 1 January 2018:
- There have been 25 finfish aquaculture farm sites de-registered and no longer in operation;
- There have been 57 finfish aquaculture farm sites inactivated as they are either in long term fallow or there are no current plans to stock them, although the APB may still be in operation;
- There have been 15 finfish APBs de-registered, no longer in operation which have surrendered authorisation to operate;
- There have been 15 finfish APBs which are registered as non-producing businesses, and have no farm sites in operation, which have surrendered authorisation to operate.
- How many finfish aquaculture sites have (b) had their licence withdrawn since 1 January 2018 (withdrawn being interpreted by the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) as removal by the competent authority for enforcement purposes):
- There have been no finfish aquaculture farm sites which have been withdrawn from an APB’s authorisation to operate;
- There have been no finfish APBs which have had their authorisation to operate withdrawn.
- The reasons for any aquaculture site ceasing to operate are a decision made by the commercial company operating the site and are not available to the FHI.
- Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to regulate the salmon farming industry since 2018.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24412 on 22 January 2024, to the answer to question S6W-23642 on 7 December 2023, and to the answer to question S6W-20127 on 21 July 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .
- Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government which regulatory body is responsible for the potential impact of escaped farmed salmon on Scotland’s wild salmon stocks.
Answer
Local authorities are responsible for considering the potential environmental impacts of fish farms, including escaped fish, when determining planning applications. NatureScot, District Salmon Fishery Boards and Scottish Government Marine Directorate provide advice as statutory consultees.
Scottish Government Marine Directorate is responsible for monitoring and enforcement of containment and escapes provisions within the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007, Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2013 and the Fish Farm Record Keeping (Scotland) Order 2008.
- Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with the UK Government to improve environmental standards in Scotland's salmon farming industry.
Answer
The industry in Scotland already operates to robust environmental regulations and delivers high standards and we are committed to working with the industry to make continuous improvements. In terms of environmental standards for aquaculture, most of the relevant powers are devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
The Fisheries Act 2020 and Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) ( Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) ) set out how the Scottish Government works with the rest of the UK, including the UK Government, to manage aquaculture noting that there is a significant difference in size and different focus between the industries.
We work jointly to ensure that Free Trade Agreements safeguard the health of farmed salmon. We also work closely with the UK Government via the Aquatic Animal Health Policy Group to improve and ensure biosecurity of trade and domestic movements of live aquatic animals, minimising risk of introduction and spread of disease within UK waters.
- Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government which independent body reviews the science relating to finfish aquaculture in Scotland.
Answer
A wide range of aquaculture research is published by universities and research institutes, both in Scotland and globally, including research by public bodies such as Scottish Environment Protection Agency, as well as by the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate. These publications are subject to established academic peer review processes and add to the evidence base which will be utilised by the industry, regulators, researchers and innovators.
On 11 January 2024 I launched the Scottish Government’s Marine Science and Innovation Strategy, which outlines how we can utilise the best evidence and data available for making informed management decisions to deliver on our Blue Economy Vision.
- Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many social contracts exist between finfish aquaculture companies and the communities within which they operate; what any such contracts deliver, and what the monetary value/equivalent is of each.
Answer
Aquaculture producers may operate a range of community funds and finance schemes to which local communities can apply. Scottish Government does not routinely collect or hold the details of individual contracts and funds.
Crown Estate Scotland has a remit to generate lasting value for Scotland from the natural resources in its care. Rents due from aquaculture leases granted by CES were reviewed in 2022 and following that “root and branch” review they have recently increased. Further information on the review and aquaculture rents is available on Crown Estate Scotland’s website: Root and branch review of aquaculture leasing complete | Crown Estate Scotland
- Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a central evidence base relating to the aquaculture industry, and, if there is, how stakeholders can gain access to it.
Answer
A wide range of aquaculture research is published by universities and research institutes, both in Scotland and globally, including research by public bodies such as SEPA, as well as the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate. Summaries of research are published by the Scottish Government Marine Directorate and SEPA on their websites and peer reviewed publications by all scientists may be accessed through a range online academic journals.
We are committed to making science as accessible as possible. The Scottish Shelf Model is a good example of a shared resource with vast array of applications which can be used by developed by the wider science community. We are working together to consider future aquaculture science evidence needs. Last year, I commissioned the Scottish Science Advisory Council (SSAC) to consider the use of science and evidence in aquaculture consenting. I look forward to working with stakeholders to further consider the recommendations made by the SSAC in their report this year.
- Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 19 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will work with the UK Government, as a part of the announced Green Industries Growth Accelerator, to provide investment to support the development of new infrastructure at the Harland and Wolff site in Methil.
Answer
I wrote to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade in November 2023 welcoming the UK Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Plan, and to offer the Scottish Government’s commitment to work collectively to deliver on the key elements of direct relevance to Scotland. The Advanced Manufacturing Plan will be supported by the Green Industries Growth Accelerator fund.
Details of the precise delivery of the Advanced Manufacturing Plan and Green Industries Growth Accelerator are yet to be finalised. The Scottish Government will continue to offer support to the UK Government at official and Ministerial level, ensuring that opportunities within Scotland are maximised.
- Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what process will be used to identify the seven small ferries currently operated by CalMac staff on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service (CHFS) network that will be replaced by 2026, and when it anticipates that the first of these replacement ferries will be in service on the CHFS network.
Answer
The Small Vessel Replacement Programme is complex. Costs, delivery timescales and funding profiles evolve as details develop through the ongoing outline business case process. The re-profiling of budget from 2023-24 will not impact on the timelines for delivery as set out in recent public engagement events. The first vessel is currently expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2026 with further vessels at four to six month intervals thereafter until 2028.