Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 20 March 2025 [Draft]
20 Mar 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Salmon Farming
First, I appreciate the work that Professor Griggs undertook and his recommendations. We are taking forward work through the consenting task group to look specifically at his recommendation on consents and to address the challenges in that respect, because we know that that process can be more straightforward. I am looking forward to the update on the consenting task group’s work, which is due shortly.
Returning to my comments on polarisation and the different views on salmon farming, we must, in the work that we are taking forward, collaborate and consult, and that takes time. I absolutely recognise the committee’s call for the Government to act urgently in this area, but there is a need to build consensus on the way forward and, as far as possible, build relationships. Focusing too much on pace will not necessarily lead to good outcomes.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16852, in the name of Finlay Carson, on behalf of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee, on salmon farm...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
I am pleased to open the debate on behalf of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee and to speak to the findings of our follow-up inquiry into salmon farmin...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP)
SNP
Does the member recognise, acknowledge and welcome the fact that, since 2018—seven years ago—the sector as a whole has invested a staggering £1,000 million i...
Finlay Carson
Con
Absolutely. We recognise that the industry has gone some way in innovating and looking at how it can tackle some of the challenges. Of most concern to the co...
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Finlay Carson makes an important point about the fact that the committee wants to see progress within one year, but can he tell us exactly what the committee...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Please answer and conclude, convener.
Finlay Carson
Con
We take those points on board. It is very important that, before the 12 months are up, the committee has the opportunity to see whether there has been satisf...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you. Before I call the cabinet secretary, members might wish to be aware that we do have a little time in hand this afternoon. 15:10
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands (Mairi Gougeon)
SNP
First, I am grateful to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee for its thorough exploration of the issues that salmon farming faces and for members’ conside...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
It has been more than a year since the Long Loch Salmon semi-closed containment project was called in for a decision by the Scottish Government. We are talki...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
Unfortunately, I am not in a position to provide Beatrice Wishart with an update on that. As I hope that she can appreciate, I am not the minister responsibl...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
Made a request to intervene.
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
I am happy to take an intervention.
Fergus Ewing
SNP
I am very grateful to the cabinet secretary for giving way. Does the cabinet secretary agree that the Griggs report’s main recommendation of having a lead in...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
First, I appreciate the work that Professor Griggs undertook and his recommendations. We are taking forward work through the consenting task group to look sp...
Finlay Carson
Con
I appreciate the cabinet secretary giving way to me, because I know that she is not really getting into her flow with all of these interventions. However, w...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
Finlay Carson is absolutely right about the transparency of the information that is provided. More information is provided for salmon farming than for any ot...
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I am delighted to be able to open this debate on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. Before I go any further, I remind Parliament of my entry in the regist...
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Made a request to intervene.
Edward Mountain
Con
I will give way to my colleague Jamie Greene, who I think was on that committee.
Jamie Greene
Con
I was keen to listen to today’s debate, and I indeed sat alongside the member during the deliberations on that report all those years ago. I am still surpris...
Edward Mountain
Con
I share the member’s disappointment. If I had known where we would be today, I would have joined those committee members who called for a moratorium in 2018...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
I appreciate what members have said so far today about the fish mortalities and I do not think that anybody is willing to accept the current level of mortali...
Edward Mountain
Con
Of course I accept that fact—as a farmer, I am well aware of it. Let me give an example: on the farm, sometimes we get blackleg. If that happens, it will kil...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
Will the member take another intervention?
Edward Mountain
Con
I will take one more if I have time.
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
In the evidence that the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee heard, there was one example of a specific mortality event that happened because of micro jellyf...
Edward Mountain
Con
I accept that there need to be adaptable controls in particular areas. The Kishorn A, B and C sites continually have a high mortality rate, which calls into ...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee’s report was difficult to compile, because it represents an appraisal of changes that were put in place following the...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
Does the member recognise that, in addition to the significant investment that the industry makes in research and innovation, we provided funding to the Scot...