WWF Welcomes Strategy – Fishupdate.com

WWF Welcomes Strategy Fish Farming Today Published:  24 March, 2003

WWF SCOTLAND today welcomed publication of the Scottish Executive’s aquaculture strategy as an important first step towards properly regulating the industry.

“At last, after some 20 years of poorly regulated expansion in aquaculture,Scotland is actually going to have a strategy,” said Simon Pepper, Director of WWF Scotland. “Although far from perfect, it does go some way towards addressing the fears of environmental groups and the general public alike about the damaging impacts of farming the seas.”

The strategy lays down 33 action points that aim to set rules for good practice and the location of new sites. These action points include a commitment to identify – within 12 months – sites that need to be relocated. They also limit any further expansion to areas that can support fin or shell fish farming and to companies that can guarantee high quality production with a minimum of impact on the environment.