Alex Rowley

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to address the reported institutional and personal mistrust between the finfish industry, regulators, parts of government and stakeholders.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I do not recognise this characterisation of the relationship among the parties with an interest in aquaculture and it is an unhelpful misrepresentation of the many ways in which key partners, including government, interact. However, there are always ways in w…

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the Finfish Aquaculture Advisory Panel has achieved since its inception.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Advisory Panel has served as a forum for interested parties to share their thoughts on, and priorities for, the refinement and improvement of the regulatory framework for marine finfish farms that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) implemen…

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the finfish aquaculture framework will be reviewed.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: An independent review of the current regulatory framework for Scottish aquaculture by Professor Griggs was published on 10 February 2022 and is available to view on the Scottish Government’s website: Aquaculture regulatory process: review - gov.scot (www.gov…

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Finfish Aquaculture Advisory Panel (a) last met and (b) will meet next.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Finfish Aquaculture Advisory Panel is chaired by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and last met in May 2022. The recent focus of work of the parties involved in the panel has been on the development of the SEPA sea lice risk assessment fra…

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the regulatory system for finfish aquaculture is fit for purpose.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The finfish farming sector operates under robust regulations covering environmental impact and fish health. The Scottish Government is committed to streamlining the aquaculture regulatory framework, whilst maintaining high standards, to ensure regulation is a…

9 Jan 2024 · Written 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Government what information it holds on how many finfish aquaculture sites have (a) been closed, (b) had their licence withdrawn and (c) surrendered their licence since 2018, and for what reason.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 · Mairi Gougeon: 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…

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many social contracts exist between finfish aquaculture companies and the communities within which they operate; what any such contracts deliver, and what the monetary value/equivalent is of each.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Aquaculture producers may operate a range of community funds and finance schemes to which local communities can apply. Scottish Government does not routinely collect or hold the details of individual contracts and funds. Crown Estate Scotland has a remit to …

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which independent body reviews the science relating to finfish aquaculture in Scotland.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: A wide range of aquaculture research is published by universities and research institutes, both in Scotland and globally, including research by public bodies such as Scottish Environment Protection Agency, as well as by the Scottish Government’s Marine Direct…

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a central evidence base relating to the aquaculture industry, and, if there is, how stakeholders can gain access to it.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: A wide range of aquaculture research is published by universities and research institutes, both in Scotland and globally, including research by public bodies such as SEPA, as well as the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate. Summaries of research are publ…

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what improvements have been made to fish health and mortality monitoring in the salmon farming industry since January 2018.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: In 2019 the Scottish Government strengthened its regulation of sea lice on fish farms by reducing the levels of sea lice per fish at which the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) increases monitoring of sea lice on a farm, or takes enforcement action. The Fish Fa…

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action (a) SEPA and (b) Marine Scotland has taken to reduce the level of (i) sea lice infestation, (ii) gill disease and (iii) fish deaths in the salmon farming industry since 2018.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Improving fish health, reducing mortality to lowest possible levels, and ensuring satisfactory measures are in place for the prevention, control or reduction of sea lice is the responsibility of aquaculture production businesses. The Fish Health Inspectorate’…

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has undertaken since 2018 to investigate the potential impact that environmental standards in the salmon farming industry have on the health of farmed fish.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government and its relevant agencies proactively consider the potential impacts of any introduction of, or changes to, regulatory controls in place to prevent damage to the marine environment. When a new regulatory control is being considered for…

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has undertaken since 2018 on the potential impact that poor health of farmed salmon could have on Scotland’s wild salmon stocks.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Research into sea-lice infestation dynamics is an ongoing area of interest for the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate. Most notably, in 2015 we initiated a ten-year programme of research to investigate any potential risk to wild salmon from sea lice i…

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what sanctions are available to regulators to impose penalties on any companies responsible for the escape of farmed salmon.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007 requires Aquaculture Production Businesses to demonstrate that satisfactory measures are in place for the containment of fish, and the prevention of escape of fish. Current Scottish Government policy for demon…

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the system of reporting by the salmon farming industry of issues relating to fish health, including (a) sea lice numbers, (b) gill health, (c) fish mortality and (d) fish wellbeing, is compulsory or voluntary.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Fish Farming Businesses (Reporting) (Scotland) Order 2020 places a legal requirement for aquaculture production businesses to report average sea lice numbers per fish per week to Scottish Ministers. The Aquatic Animal Health (Scotland) Regulations 2009 p…

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many closed containment fish farms currently operate in Scotland, broken down by (a) the managing company and (b) location, and what action it is taking to encourage a move towards closed containment fish farms in Scotland.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is committed to exploring increasing the Scottish aquaculture sector’s adoption of new and innovative technologies which achieve both positive environmental and health and welfare outcomes, including the potential use of semi and close…

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans for a single accreditation scheme to be introduced in the salmon farming industry.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Whilst we do not currently have plans to introduce a single accreditation scheme for salmon farming in Scotland, we take into account accreditation schemes when considering regulatory change. The Scottish Government recognises the role accreditation plays in …

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps have been taken since the publication, in November 2018, of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee’s 9th Report, 2018 (Session 5), Salmon farming in Scotland (SP Paper 432), to address the issues raised in the Committee's report.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: As reflected in the Bute House Agreement, we remain committed to a programme of work to better protect wildlife and the environment, and ensure aquaculture in Scotland is sustainable, diverse, competitive and economically viable. We have made significant pro…

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many escapes of farmed salmon have occurred in each year since 2018, broken down by location, and whether it can provide the total number of individual fish that have escaped.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Information held by the Scottish Government on fish farm escapes is available on Scotland’s Aquaculture Website at: Scotland's Aquaculture | Home .

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to regulate the salmon farming industry since 2018.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24412 on 22 January 2024, to the answer to question S6W-23642 on 7 December 2023, and to the answer to question S6W-20127 on 21 July 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Par…

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which regulatory body is responsible for the potential impact of escaped farmed salmon on Scotland’s wild salmon stocks.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Local authorities are responsible for considering the potential environmental impacts of fish farms, including escaped fish, when determining planning applications. NatureScot, District Salmon Fishery Boards and Scottish Government Marine Directorate provide …

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with the UK Government to improve environmental standards in Scotland's salmon farming industry.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The industry in Scotland already operates to robust environmental regulations and delivers high standards and we are committed to working with the industry to make continuous improvements. In terms of environmental standards for aquaculture, most of the relev…

19 Dec 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with universities and colleges to address the reported skills gap across the economy.

7 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total value is of any public contracts for services procured by Transport Scotland under the Multiple Supplier Framework Agreement for Maritime Consultancy Services, since June 2021 to date.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: To date there have been two call-off contracts under the Multiple Supplier Framework Agreement for Maritime Consultancy Services. They have a combined total value of £82,170.

7 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed the next contract for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service with representatives of the UK Government.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As transport is a devolved matter there is no formal requirement for Scottish Government to discuss the next contract for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service with representatives of the UK Government. Transport Scotland officials do, however, have regular di…

7 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether lifeline ferry services in Scotland are services of public economic interest under the UK Government’s subsidy control rules.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government’s position is that lifeline ferry services are classed as Services of Public Economic Interest under the UK Subsidy Control Act.

7 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of its staff are currently employed in the Subsidy Control Team.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: There are currently seven members of staff in the Scottish Government subsidy control team.

7 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21356 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 September 2023, what advice on the direct award of the CHFS3 contract it has received from Turner and Townsend to date.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland are working closely with specialist commercial and technical advisors, Turner and Townsend, to progress development of the next Clyde and Hebrides (CHFS) contract specification. Alongside other internal and external specialists, and togethe…

7 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what process will be used to identify the seven small ferries currently operated by CalMac staff on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service (CHFS) network that will be replaced by 2026, and when it anticipates that the first of these replacement ferries will be in service on the CHFS networ…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Small Vessel Replacement Programme is complex. Costs, delivery timescales and funding profiles evolve as details develop through the ongoing outline business case process. The re-profiling of budget from 2023-24 will not impact on the timelines for delive…

7 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the ministerial statement on 16 November 2023, what resources it has allocated for the (a) remainder of the current financial year and (b) financial year 2024-25 for the exploration of the case for directly awarding the next contract for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service t…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Alongside a dedicated Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service 3 team and internal specialist support on Legal, Financial & Subsidy control, the Scottish Government have engaged with external specialist technical, legal and financial advisors and will continue to eng…