FOREWORD
CONTAINMENT SPECIAL
Containment: the Scottish Government’s view
Paul Haddon – Aquaculture Policy Team Leader, Marine Scotland A
quaculture is a huge success story for Scotland, provid- ing high quality jobs in the rural and coastal communities of the highlands and islands, while our farmed fish and shellfish are world renowned. However, for the industry to grow, it must limit its environmental impact and ensure Scotland’s pristine waters remain unspoilt.
Following the publication by Scottish Ministers of ‘A
Fresh Start – The renewed Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture’ in 2009, six themed work- ing groups were formed under the auspices of the Ministerial Group on Aquaculture. One of these, the Improved Containment Working Group, is making fantastic progress and is forging a Scottish Technical Standard for fish farm equipment. This is a significant step forward and demonstrates how crucial it is for the industry and manufacturers to be included from the outset to ensure a credible standard. The docu- ment will define standards for specific locations to ensure nets, cages and moorings are fit for purpose on a site-by-site basis.
Training
This is being supplemented by accredited training to ensure fish farm workers minimise escapes. A programme of contain- ment training courses for hatchery and farm staff in Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, the Highlands and Argyll is already in place and has included input from pen, net and mooring manufacturers.
The Scottish Government has also introduced powers for inspection and audit in relation to fish farm escapes and con- tainment on fish farms under the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007. 2010 was the first full year of this inspec- tion regime, which has almost certainly contributed to the sharp decline in escape incidents, which were at their lowest since statutory reporting was introduced in 2002. However, there has already been one escape involving about 1500 salmon this year.
The Scottish Government recognises the excellent progress the Scottish industry has made and welcomes the development of the technical standard and the ongoing containment awareness initiatives. However, containment remains a top priority and we cannot afford to be complacent about escapes. The aquaculture industry has a fantastic opportunity to grow, but any growth must not be to the detriment of other users of Scotland’s pristine waters through any factors, including the preventable loss of fish.
THIS
INSPECTION REGIME HAS ALMOST CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE SHARP DECLINE IN ESCAPES
4
www.fishfarmer-magazine.com
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