Scotland: Ministers to meet Pan Fish to discuss plans for Scottish operations – Fishupdate.com

Scotland: Ministers to meet Pan Fish to discuss plans for Scottish operations Published:  28 April, 2006

SCOTTISH ministers are due to meet Pan Fish representatives next month to discuss their future plans for Scottish operations in light of the propsed merger with Marine Harvest.

Earlier this week in the Scottish Parliament, Green MSP Eleanor Scott asked Deputy Minister for the Environment and Rural Development Rhona Brankin what percentage of Scottish salmon farming production will be controlled by a single foreign-owned company following the proposed merger between Pan Fish and Marine Harvest.

Ms Brankin responded by saying that estimates based on data published in the Scottish Fish Farms Annual Production Survey 2004 suggest that the new company will control somewhere in the range of 40-50% of salmon production in Scotland.”

Ms Scott also asked what action the Executive will take to ensure that the proposed merger will not lead to job losses and price increases for consumers of Scottish farmed salmon.

Ms Brankin replied: “Ministers have invited the company to meet and discuss their future plans for Scottish operations and how the public sector (including Highland and Islands Enterprise) might help to ensure continued success. The meeting is scheduled to take place next month.”

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