Aquaculture and Fisheries consultation
The Scottish Government is currently consulting on proposals for an Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill. A response in your own words will convey more weight than one which is obviously part of a campaign. If you have time, it would greatly improve the chances of success if you can include the following points in your response.
Collection and publication of sea-lice data
Fish farms with high densities of fish provide a perfect breeding habitat for sea-lice, which are known to damage the health of both farmed fish and wild salmonids. In order to fully assess strategies for the control of sea lice and gain a broader understanding of the impacts on wild fish, results of sea lice monitoring from individual farms should be made publically available. Full disclosure would demonstrate fish farms to be responsible and transparent operators and allow planning decisions to take account of the cumulative effect of fish farms in a given area.
Biomass control
Biomass consents (the licensed volume of salmon on site) are issued to fish farms for the control of discharges such as fish waste and chemical treatments but do not currently cover wider environmental management such as sea-lice control. Scottish Ministers should be given a power to require SEPA, the Government’s environment watchdog, to reduce biomass consents in order to address emerging concerns relating to the health and welfare of both farmed and wild fish.
Tracing escapes
Escapes from fish farms cause significant harm to wild salmon through competition, displacement and interbreeding. In order to improve accountability, Ministers should be given powers to take or require samples from fish farms, so that escaped fish can be traced back to the farm of origin.
Statutory carcass tagging
Statutory carcass tagging for wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout would significantly reduce the market in illegally caught fish. A system of tagging, working in combination with the existing ban on sale of rod caught salmon and sea trout would ensure that only legitimately captured fish, easily identified by tags that are only issued to licensed operators, are offered for sale. The scheme would not only help tackle poaching, but would support the collection of information on catches, in turn aiding the conservation of salmon and sea trout.
Scottish Wildlife Trust Harbourside House 110 Commercial St Edinburgh EH6 6NF
T. 0131 312 7765 F. 0131 312 8705 E.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland (registered number SC040247)