Question reference: S6W-24434
- Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 10 January 2024
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 January 2024
Question
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Government what information it holds on how many finfish aquaculture sites have (a) been closed, (b) had their licence withdrawn and (c) surrendered their licence since 2018, and for what reason.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- How many finfish aquaculture sites have (b) had their licence withdrawn since 1 January 2018 (withdrawn being interpreted by the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) as removal by the competent authority for enforcement purposes):
- There have been no finfish aquaculture farm sites which have been withdrawn from an APB’s authorisation to operate;
- There have been no finfish APBs which have had their authorisation to operate withdrawn.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.