About the Inquiry
The Rural Economy and Connectivity (REC) Committee agreed its approach to this inquiry at its meeting on 31 January 2018.
The Committee agreed that the inquiry would focus solely on the farmed salmon sector.
Remit
To consider the current state of salmon industry in Scotland, identify opportunities for its future development and explore how the various fish health and environmental challenges it currently faces can be addressed.
SPICe Briefings
Timetable
7 March |
Evidence session with aquaculture research bodies. Confirmed witnesses include: Scottish Association Marine Science; University of Stirling Insititute for Aquaculture; Steve Westbrook. |
14 March |
Evidence session with environmental organisations. Confirmed witnesses include: Scottish Environment LINK, Salmon & Trout Conservation, Fisheries Management Scotland, Lochaber District salmon Fishery Board. |
18 April |
Evidence session with regulatory bodies. Confirmed witnesses include: Scottish Natural Hertiage, Highland Council, SEPA and the Crown Estate. |
25 April |
Evidence session with development bodies. Confirmed witnesses include: Scotland Food & Drink, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre |
2 May |
Evidence session with salmon farming representatives. Confirmed witnesses include Marine Harvest, Scottish Salmon Company, Grieg Seafood, Gael Force Group and SSPO |
9 May |
Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity |
Evidence
The Committee launched a call for views on 8 February which ran to Friday 27 April.
The call for evidence is now closed - no further submissions will be accepted.
Read the written submissions received
Visits and Events
Meeting with the Norwegian Fisheries Minister
In March 2018, Members met with the Norwegian Fisheries Minister, Per Sandberg to discuss aquaculture and Brexit, as well as the Committee’s inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland. Norwegian officials provided the Committee with further information on salmon farming regulation in Norway following the meeting.
Video conference with the Aquaculture Stewardship Council
In April 2018, Members held an informal video-conference with staff from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council as part of their inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland.
Committee visit to a salmon fishery
As part of the Committee's inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland, Members visited a salmon fishery at River Lochy, Drimsaille Mill Salmon Hatchery, Marine Harvest facilities at Lochailort Recirculation Hatchery and Gorsten Fish Farm. Marine Harvest provided the Committee with information following the visit -
Correspondence
- Overview of the Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum (SARF), 28 February 2018 (293KB pdf)
- Pre-oral evidence comment by Salmon and Trout Conservation Scotland, 8 March 2018 (241KB pdf)
- Letter from Professor Paul Tett, Scottish Association for Marine Science providing additional information following the meeting on 7 March, 12 March 2018 (52KB pdf)
- Note from the Salmon and Trout Conservation Scotland following their appearance at Committee on 14 March 2018, 15 March 2018 (86KB pdf)
- Letter from the Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation regarding Salmon Farm Sea Lice Data, 30 April 2018 (381KB pdf)
- Letter from the Salmon and Trout Conservation Scotland regarding the publication of sea lice data, 3 May 2018 (169KB pdf)
- Information from Fisheries Management Scotland to the Committee regarding the Aquaculture Stewardship Council certification, 4 May 2018 (71KB pdf)
- Response from Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to supplementary questions following the Committee Meeting on 18 April, 8 May 2018 (157KB pdf)
- Response from Scottish Natural Heritage to supplementary questions following the Committee Meeting on 18 April, 8 May 2018 (171KB pdf)
- Letter from the Friends of the Sound of Jura regarding the expanision of industrial-scale fish farming, 8 May 2018 (90KB pdf)
- Letter from the Salmon and Trout Conservation Scotland regarding sea lice on Scottish salmon farms, 9 May 2018 (146KB pdf)
- Letter from Openseas following the session with the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity on 9 May regarding voluntary wrasse management measures - implications for inquiry into salmon farming, 11 May 2018 (250KB pdf)
- Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity to the Committee following his appearance on 9 May, regarding Closed Containment and the Implications for Waste, 5 June 2018 (167KB pdf)
- Letter from the Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation regarding Salmon Farming Sea Lice Data, 7 June 2018 (621KB pdf)
- Letter from Guy Linley-Adams to the Committee regarding fish farming and transparency over sea lice data, 12 June 2018 (127KB pdf)
- Letter from the Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation to the Committee regarding Salmon Farming Mortality Data, 17 August 2018 (448KB pdf)
Work by other Committees
The Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform (ECCLR) Committee agreed at its meeting on 23 January 2018 to undertake an inquiry in relation the environmental implications of salmon farming.
The outcome of this work was a report to the REC Committee to inform its aquaculture inquiry.
Report
The Committee published its report on the inquiry on 27 November 2018.
The Committee received two responses to its report -