Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 21 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will publish official guidance under section 38 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 in relation to the progression of farmed fish welfare standards.
In my letter to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee (RAIC) dated 23 September 2025, regarding progress towards our commitments in response to the RAIC enquiry into salmon farming; I confirmed that the Scottish Government will publish official guidance under Section 38 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 for the production of farmed fish. We will now consider the next steps to progress this work, including how we will work in partnership with the sector and other stakeholders to produce guidance which is both robust and workable.