Streamlined regulation for wellboat discharges

Regulation of marine fish farming wellboats in Scotland has transferred to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). The move is intended to streamline regulation by bringing the responsibility under a single body. Up until now, an operator would require a marine licence with Marine Scotland for discharges from wellboats, with a separate licence from SEPA…

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New focus for Marine Scotland’s Farmed Fish Health group

Government agency Marine Scotland has set out priorities for a ‘refreshed’ Farmed Fish Health Framework: the causes of fish mortality, impact of climate change and development of treatments. The steering group for the 10 year framework, a collaboration between the aquaculture sector and Scottish Government and its advisers, will be chaired by The Scottish Government’s…

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Scottish aquaculture worth £885 million

AQUACULTURE is contributing hugely to the wider Scottish economy  in both revenue and jobs,  new research  shows. A Marine Scotland commissioned report  reveals that it is worth at least £885-million and supports 11,700 jobs. Although published in the last 48 hours, the study  refer to the situation in 2018, so the figures are likely to…

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Scottish salmon farmers launch acoustic devices review

The Scottish salmon farming sector is to review the use of acoustic devices deployed on farms to deter seals. Farmers will conduct risk assessments on the use of acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs) which are currently used throughout the sector. The move is to ensure the sector remains compliant with an expected tighter enforcement of European…

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Move towards mandatory wrasse controls

SALMON farmers in Scotland have welcomed a government consultation on new wrasse fishing measures. The review will consider the introduction of mandatory controls over the harvesting of live wrasse, used as a cleaner fish for the salmon farming industry. The government said in a statement it recognised the important role played by wrasse in controlling…

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Fish welfare complaints ‘can be taken out of context’

THERE has been a significant rise in the number of fish welfare complaints received by government agencies over the past 18 months. Jenni Diffin of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), which works for Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), told the Fish Veterinary Society conference in Edinburgh on Tuesday that her…

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Norway egg ban ‘boost for Scottish broodstock’

A BAN on the import of salmon eggs from Norway, introduced last summer, could be good news for the Scottish industry in the long term, sources said. Since the temporary salmon and trout ova ban came into force in June 2019, after fears over infectious salmon anaemia (ISA), farmers in Scotland have had to turn…

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Aquaculture awards 2020 officially open

NOMINATIONS opened today for the 2020 Aquaculture Awards, which will be held during the biennial Aquaculture UK exhibition in Aviemore in May. The awards are open to entrants from across the world, with a deadline for applications of March 9, 2020. There are 14 categories, with a few changes since the last awards, which were…

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Sick fish pictures used to attack salmon industry

SCOTTISH salmon farmers\’ battle to keep photographs intended for the Fish Health Inspectorate out of the public eye has been revealed by the government. The pictures of diseased fish, from official fish health inspections, have been seized on by anti-salmon farm campaigners and the angling lobby as a means of attacking the industry. Campaign groups…

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Salmon producers say emergency inspections are in place

THE Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation say the country’s fish farms are already subject to emergency inspections. The demand has come in the form of a petition  from campaigners with the consumer group SumOfUs which it is delivering to Marine Scotland, which says there has been a surge in salmon deaths over the past few months.…

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