Question reference: S5W-32305
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 5 October 2020
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Current status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 30 October 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken to assess the costs borne by (a) other sectors and (b) the marine ecosystem as a consequence of open cage salmon aquaculture in inshore waters.
Answer
A). I refer the member to S5W-32303 on 30 October 2020. It is not standard practice to assess an entire sector in the framework of a cost benefit analysis. This is typically undertaken (in line with Green Book guidance) when considering specific policy interventions.
B). A report commissioned by SPICe and undertaken by SAMS Research Services Ltd (SRSL) contains a review of literature on the environmental impacts of salmon farming in Scotland, the scale of the impacts and approaches to mitigating the impacts. This report was the basis for the Parliamentary Inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland and our response can be found here: https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Rural/20190129_Cab_Sec_RE_-_SG_response_to_Cttee_report_on_salmon_farming_in_Scotland.pdf
Marine Scotland Science (MSS), on behalf of the Scottish Government and in partnership with other Scottish public sector institutes, is responsible for a broad programme of work to develop our understanding of aquaculture impacts on wild fish and the marine eco-system. Our Government field station at Shieldaig supports long-term research in this area. Formal monitoring and assessment of the environmental impact of fish farming is the statutory responsibility of SEPA and NatureScot. The Scottish Government uses the combined advice, analysis, assessment and regulation provided by those bodies and MSS to develop its policies on aquaculture. In June 2019, SEPA published its strengthened regulatory framework for marine pen fish farms followed by its first Finfish Aquaculture Sector Plan including a focus on how organic waste discharges from farms can be better regulated. A Technical Working Group is also developing a Risk Assessment Framework for assessing the level of risk posed by sea lice interactions with wild salmonids and we are currently developing proposals to improve aquaculture spatial management and planning, incorporating MSS field observation and dispersal modelling results for sea lice.
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