Environment and Rural Development Committee, 02 Jun 2004

Meeting date: Wednesday, June 2, 2004

Official Report 71KB pdf

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Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture

Agenda item 2 is consideration of the strategic framework for Scottish aquaculture. The Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development, Allan Wilson, would like to have a representative on the working group, which will meet on 16 June. Members have a copy of the minister's letter to Maureen Macmillan and of Maureen's letter to the committee. The point of the working group is to monitor the progress that is being made under the strategic framework for Scottish aquaculture, which, as members will recall, has been debated in committee.

The ministerial working group developed a strategic framework for aquaculture when a lot of heat was being generated by various bodies that had a stake in what happened in the aquaculture industry. The group comprised representatives of every stakeholder imaginable, including the banks and the retail side of the business, the fish farms, wild fish interests, environmental non-governmental organisations, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Highland Council. As the group was very large, it split into various sub-committees. I chaired the environmental sub-committee.

The group considered the economic, environmental and social principles that should underlie the aquaculture industry. There was an overarching vision of good stewardship. The group met for two years—or perhaps it met for just a year, although it seemed much longer than that—and produced the strategic framework, which has been in operation for the past year and is now being assessed.

I was quite happy to be on the working group again but, since I wrote my letter to the committee, I have been approached by Alasdair Morrison, who is extremely interested in participating in the review group, because of the aquaculture interests in his constituency, where he feels that a lot of innovative work is being done. He would like to be able to input his knowledge of that work to the review group. I would be happy not to put myself forward as the committee's representative on the group if Alasdair Morrison wishes to fulfil that role.

I am happy to fall on my sword. I enjoyed being on the group, but what is happening in the Western Isles is extremely interesting and innovative and I appreciate that the group would benefit from having a member who is in direct contact with that work. Therefore, I throw myself at the mercy of the committee.

I do not think that we will ask you to go quite that far.

Who is on the review group? What is its make-up?

I have a summary with me, but the strategic framework contains a list of everyone who is on the review group. You will find the list on the website. There are about 20 or more people, representing all the different stakeholder interests.

How often do we get reports? Tracey Hawe said that she had received such reports. It would be useful to receive reports on the work of the group as it goes along. Is there anything else that you want to add?

The meetings do not take place all that frequently. In his letter, the minister indicated that they take place once a year or once every 15 months or so. Their purpose is to ensure that the strategy is on course and to change things that are not working.

Thanks very much. Maureen Macmillan has passed on the mantle to Alasdair Morrison. Would he like to add anything?

I want only to answer Roseanna Cunningham's question. The second paragraph of Allan Wilson's letter to Maureen Macmillan indicates that the review group is basically a reconvening of the group that originally drew up the strategic framework document.

An area of friction that has existed for too long is the failure of the companies to work together. That internal industry friction has translated into other areas, such as those involving the statutory agencies and the wild fish interests. In the islands, we now have a blueprint that has been working well for the past four months. I know that Allan Wilson's officials, who have been back and forth for months, are impressed. I want to ensure that that success is spread throughout the country for the industry's benefit.

If everyone is happy with that, we should thank Maureen Macmillan for the work that was done by her and all the other original members of the working group, which got us to the aquaculture strategy. We agree to nominate Alasdair Morrison as our representative. Will you keep us informed?

I will be happy to report back.

I think that the first meeting is on 16 June. You can look forward to that.

We now move into private session, as we agreed to do at our meeting on 21 April, to consider a draft report. I invite the official report, broadcasting staff and any visiting members of the public to leave the room.

Meeting continued in private until 11:34.