Scottish Aquaculture Council minutes: November 2023

Attendees and apologies

Chair

• Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands (RALRI) – Chair

Members

• Fiona Simpson, Chief Planner, Scottish Government 
• Annabel Turpie, Director, Marine Directorate, SG
• Alex Adrian, Crown Estate Scotland
• Lin Bunten, Scottish Environment Protection Agency
• Clare Cavers, Scottish Environment LINK/Fidra
• James Deverill, Organic Sea Harvest/Salmon Scotland
• Russel Griggs, Independent Reviewer
• Elaine Jamieson, Highlands and Islands Enterprise [remote]
• Heather Jones, Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre
• Ian Laister, Bakkafrost/Salmon Scotland
• Nick Lake, Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers [remote]
• Dawn Purchase, Marine Conservation Society
• Oliver Robinson, British Trout Association
• Tavish Scott, Salmon Scotland
• Cathy Tilbrook, NatureScot
• Alan Wells, Fisheries Management Scotland
• Malcolm Pentland, Deputy Director - Marine Economy and Communities

Additional attendees

• Dickon Howell, Howell Marine Consulting
• David Signorini, Acting Director, Marine Directorate, SG
• Kate Higgins, Special Advisor to the First Minister

Apologies

• Anne Aitken, Deputy Director, Environmental Quality and Resilience, SG
• Nicole Cooke, Scottish Environment Protection Agency
• Julie Fitzpatrick, Chief Scientific Advisor, Scottish Government
• Mairi McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition (NZJT)
• Diarmuid O’Neill, Deputy Director, Science Evidence Data and Digital
• Owen Stevens, Scottish Seaweed Industry Association
• Sheila Voas, Chief Veterinary Officer, Scottish Government  

Secretariat provided by Marine Directorate officials.

Items and actions

Summary of meeting four actions

• minute from the Scottish Aquaculture Councils (SAC) third meeting to be considered for publication by ministers
• Consenting Task Group and partners to progress plans to begin pilots of a new consenting process in two local authority areas
• Consenting Task Group and partners to consider pilot proposals and presence of District Salmon Fishery Board
• Scottish Government to consider the timing of scoping work on the Scottish Science Advisory Council (SSAC) report
• Scottish Government officials to meet with shellfish farming sector to discuss issues raised during meeting
• Scottish Government to consider the inclusion of National Marine Plan 2 under the next meeting agenda
• Scottish Government officials to liaise with an ENGO on proposal to present on the Community Voice Method

Welcome, apologies and house keeping

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands (RALRI) welcomed everyone to the fourth meeting of the Scottish Aquaculture Council (SAC) and noted the apologies of Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition.

Agreement of Scottish Aquaculture Council meeting three minutes (3 May)

No further comments were provided on meeting three minutes. Minutes will be considered for publication by Ministers.

Action

• minutes to be considered for publication by Ministers.

Consenting Task Group

Prof. Dickon Howell delivered a presentation on the work of the Consenting Task Group (CTG) and gave details on the draft pilot consenting process that has been developed by the task group. The basic principles of the new approach are:

• a request to one regulator is a request to all, to ensure a developer doesn’t need to submit the same information multiple times
• pre-application advice should be properly and efficiently targeted from the start
• capturing stakeholder knowledge of relevant material considerations early in the development process can avoid later delays and improve relationships
• information requirements should be targeted and clear to avoid unnecessary work

Prof. Howell noted that this newly developed process is draft and subject to change. It is expected that pilot delivery will be an iterative process. The process will not be perfect first time and will be further developed based on results of the pilot.

The Scottish Government intends to procure evaluation of the pilots to measure success and support subsequent work phases and to keep the SAC informed on progress.  There was a discussion and agreement on the importance of evaluation, balanced with proportionality of any evaluation exercise.

The Cabinet Secretary and SAC members thanked Prof. Howell and the CTG for the progress made to date. There was discussion on the roll-out of pilots. The salmon farming sector seeks to commence pilots as soon as possible, however it was suggested that pilots, using sites identified by the salmon farming sector, were best placed to begin in two local authority areas in January 2024 and that there were a small number of issues to be resolved by the CTG in advance.

There was a request to ensure that the pilots test processes in a District Salmon Fisheries Board area.

Members requested Scottish Government take forward the Scottish Science Advisory Council’s (SSAC) report on the use and communication of science and evidence in aquaculture. Scottish Government officials stated it may be possible to begin scoping work on implementing the SSAC recommendations following sufficient progress of consenting and other workstreams.

Actions 

•  Consenting Task Group and partners to progress plans to begin pilots of a new consenting process in two local authority areas
•  Consenting Task Group and partners to consider pilot proposals and presence of District Salmon Fishery Board
•  Scottish Government to consider the timing of scoping work on the SSAC report

Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture and Forward Look

The Cabinet Secretary thanked members for their input and collaboration in the development of the Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture. Members contributions were essential and the spirit of collaboration and openness should continue going forward as government, regulators and stakeholders work to deliver on the aims of the Vision.

The Cabinet Secretary noted that some members will be aware of the outcomes of the Scottish Funding Council Innovation Centre review and its decision not to support the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) in the next phase of its innovation centre programme from autumn of next year. The Cabinet Secretary reiterated to members the value the Scottish Government attach to the work that SAIC does, and the impact that it has, in furthering sustainable aquaculture in Scotland. The Cabinet Secretary noted that she is working alongside senior officials, the SAIC, and other relevant organisations to consider transitional and future funding arrangements for the SAIC.

The Cabinet Secretary outlined Scottish Government priorities which support the aims of the Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture including:

• working closely with SEPA on the developing sea lice risk assessment framework
• progressing plans for National Marine Plan 2 (NMP2)
• considering the responses to the recent consultation on the implementation of a new Environmental Quality Standard for Emamectin Benzoate
• continue to work closely with coastal communities and industries to develop proposals for enhanced marine protection

The Cabinet Secretary made members aware that the response to the Highly Protected Marine Areas consultation was published on 7 November and that the consultation on Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity would be open for input until 14 December. Members were invited to share their priorities in the next 12 – 24 months.

Regulatory and public body representatives priorities included:

• continuing to work with the CTG to progress the consenting pilots in the new year
• the SEPA sea lice framework, development of SEPA’s new compliance assessment scheme (aim to consult 2024, bring into effect 2025) and support the salmon farming sectors aspirations to consolidate existing farms into larger single farm sites
• work on co-existence between marine sectors
• improving social licence for aquaculture through transparency and accountability, including exploration of social contracts/ smarter ways of using rights (addressing communities views was viewed as being equally important as improving the efficiency of the consenting regime)
• work with government on relevant workstreams in support of the Vision, such as NMP2, regional marine planning, biodiversity strategy and the nature restoration fund. Potential work on spatial management and constraints mapping was noted
• exploring the roles for the for Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF) and the Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland (FIRNS) to support funding for nature positive development and source to sea investment
• climate change and links across strategic approaches to biodiversity and invasive non-native species
• delivery of the Highlands and Enterprise Regional Transformation Strategy, sustainable growth of the aquaculture sectors and social prosperity. Priority of long-term solutions to strategic issues, such as housing and transport. Collaborative working between government on shared opportunities

 Fish farm sector representatives priorities included:

• continuing to work with the CTG to progress the consenting pilots and delivery of a streamlined consenting system in line with the regulatory review
• Science and Innovation Delivery, including the SSAC report and SAIC
• continuing to address health challenges through the Farmed Fish Health Framework
• working with government, local authorities and Crown Estate Scotland to boost rural housing

The shellfish farming sector representative raised a number of specific issues impacting on their members businesses, including laboratory capacity (toxins and disease), water quality and planning fees. The Cabinet Secretary stated that officials would follow up with the member directly to discuss the issues further.

ENGO representatives priorities included:

• progress of the Salmon Interactions Working Group report, including the SEPA sea lice framework and work on escapes beyond the Technical Standard
• biodiversity and climate: work with government on Implementation of Protected seas, Biodiversity Strategy and Nature Restoration Fund
• seeking a more holistic approach taken to protection of the freshwater and marine environments, noting the ‘source to sea’ framework of giving greater consideration to terrestrial impacts on the aquatic environment
• marine Planning ( Regional and National) and engaging on food strategy

The innovation representative welcomed the Cabinet Secretary’s comments on innovation and highlighted the risks involved for SAIC. Securing future funding is a priority, with specific interest in continuing to contribute to targeted farmed fish health framework projects and progress of the SSAC report.

The Director of Marine Directorate noted work on NMP2 was underway and members would be included in engagement. It was suggested the focus of the next meeting should include NMP2.

 The Cabinet Secretary thanked all members for their contributions.

Actions 

•  Scottish Government officials to meet with shellfish farming sector to discuss specific issues raised currently impacting businesses
• Scottish Government to consider the inclusion of National Marine Plan 2 under the next meeting agenda

Any other business

One member noted that during a previous SAC meeting it was agreed that they would deliver a presentation on the community voice method at separate meeting, but this has not yet been progressed. The Cabinet Secretary stated this would be picked up as action point going forward.

It was noted that the next meeting would likely be held in February or March 2024.

Action

•  Scottish Government officials to liaise with SAC member on proposal to present on the Community Voice Method