Chamber and committees

Scotland’s Farmed Fish Health Framework seeks to support a progressive approach to fish welfare and health management, which in turn will contribute to greater sustainability and productivity of one of Scotland’s most important food sectors and contributors to our rural economy.

Under the Framework, significant progress has been made to develop an evidence based approach to how the health and welfare of farmed fish is supported in Scotland. In July 2019, I provided Parliament with a comprehensive overview of the significant progress achieved so far under all the workstreams.

Since then, the steering group taking forward the Framework considered the workstreams and approach taken; has reflected on lessons learned; and, recommended a review of the structure of the delivery mechanisms to help ensure future effectiveness and efficiency to make more rapid progress. I can therefore announce that as a result of that review, a new governance structure is being put in place and a refreshed approach will be implemented which prioritises those work streams of Scotland’s Farmed Fish Health Framework which stand to make the most direct impact on fish health in Scotland.

I can also announce that Dr Sheila Voas, Scotland’s Chief Veterinary Officer, will be the new single chair of a redesigned steering group.

The new steering group will focus on three priority workstreams:

1. Mortality by cause analysis with the associated framework activities to:

• Develop a consistent reporting methodology for collection of information on the causes of farmed fish mortality over recent years.
• Provide survival data for marine rainbow trout and marine salmon and ensure that the Farmed Fish Health Framework activities remain appropriate.

2. Climate Change and Ocean Acidification with the associated framework activities to:

• Consider the creation of real time monitoring of plankton in, and alert of the occurrence of, potentially harmful phytoplankton species.
• Determine how best to measure changing climatic conditions in Scotland particular to aquaculture leading to an annual mapping exercise.This should include an assessment of currently available environmental data from around fish farms, for example real-time temperature data.

3. Treatments (including Medicines) with the associated framework activities to:

• Encourage development of new medicines with the aim of increasing treatment flexibility and allowing the potential to explore treatment rotation in Scotland, within environmentally sustainable limits, appropriate use of veterinary medicines through ‘cascade’, and treatment residue containment and neutralisation.

Many people and organisations have already contributed their time and efforts to deliver the Farmed Fish Health Framework to date and I thank them for their involvement and would encourage them to continue their commitment to improving fish health and welfare in Scotland through the Framework’s workshop approach will allow relevant stakeholders to continue to contribute.