Chamber
Plenary, 02 Dec 2004
02 Dec 2004 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Aquaculture
There is no doubt about the importance of aquaculture to Scotland and the Scottish economy. As others have said, the industry contributes half by value of our total food exports, is worth £500 million to the Scottish economy and supports not only thousands of jobs all told, but vital jobs on the west coast and in the islands that sustain fragile local economies and keep communities alive. It is therefore not surprising that both Parliament and the Executive have devoted considerable attention to the industry, both in the first four years and in this session. The 2003 partnership agreement reiterates our commitment to
"support the growth of an aquaculture industry in salmon, other fin-fish and shellfish that is sustainable, diverse and competitive."
When I prepared for this debate, it was an interesting exercise for me to reread the Transport and the Environment Committee's two reports on its aquaculture inquiry and to realise how much progress has been made since they were published in 2002. The ministerial working group for aquaculture began its work at about the same time and produced the strategic framework for Scottish aquaculture at the end of March 2003. Many of the committee's recommendations were picked up in the priority actions that were identified in appendix 3 to the strategy. The revised appendix 3 that was published in November this year outlines progress and resets the priorities for action.
A number of the original actions have been completed, but the main message that I take from the comments on progress in the November 2004 appendix 3 is that it takes time properly to get disparate stakeholders together to tackle complex issues. It is not possible or sensible to wade in, slashing à la Brocklebank. Everyone agreed that it is important to establish how much impact regulatory costs have on the industry, but it has taken two attempts to get right the tender to do the work. A fundamental requirement in developing an integrated regulatory framework that takes assimilative and environmental capacities into account is to establish how to work those out, which has proved to be even more complicated than was anticipated. However, it is great that difficult and complex tasks are being taken on and dealt with. We now have a Scottish aquaculture research forum that can identify where work needs to be done to ensure that policy decisions are based soundly on good information.
"support the growth of an aquaculture industry in salmon, other fin-fish and shellfish that is sustainable, diverse and competitive."
When I prepared for this debate, it was an interesting exercise for me to reread the Transport and the Environment Committee's two reports on its aquaculture inquiry and to realise how much progress has been made since they were published in 2002. The ministerial working group for aquaculture began its work at about the same time and produced the strategic framework for Scottish aquaculture at the end of March 2003. Many of the committee's recommendations were picked up in the priority actions that were identified in appendix 3 to the strategy. The revised appendix 3 that was published in November this year outlines progress and resets the priorities for action.
A number of the original actions have been completed, but the main message that I take from the comments on progress in the November 2004 appendix 3 is that it takes time properly to get disparate stakeholders together to tackle complex issues. It is not possible or sensible to wade in, slashing à la Brocklebank. Everyone agreed that it is important to establish how much impact regulatory costs have on the industry, but it has taken two attempts to get right the tender to do the work. A fundamental requirement in developing an integrated regulatory framework that takes assimilative and environmental capacities into account is to establish how to work those out, which has proved to be even more complicated than was anticipated. However, it is great that difficult and complex tasks are being taken on and dealt with. We now have a Scottish aquaculture research forum that can identify where work needs to be done to ensure that policy decisions are based soundly on good information.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh):
Con
The first item of business today is a debate on motion S2M-2096, in the name of Lewis Macdonald, on a sustainable aquaculture industry, and three amendments ...
The Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development (Lewis Macdonald):
Lab
It is something over a year since the previous debate in this chamber on Scottish aquaculture. Since then, much has happened, and this is a good moment at wh...
George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD):
LD
Could the minister clarify what timescale he expects for the implementation of the measures that he discussed? With every week that goes by, many businesses ...
Lewis Macdonald:
Lab
That is a reasonable question. The temporary, provisional, safeguard provisions are likely to fall on 5 December. We anticipate that proposals resulting from...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP):
SNP
Does the industry receive anything in exchange for the £1.7 million that it has paid to the Crown Estate commission in relation to that body's 2003 report? I...
Lewis Macdonald:
Lab
We need to put the matter into perspective. The industry will confirm that Crown Estate rentals account for about 1 per cent of its costs. Therefore, there i...
Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con):
Con
On the subject of the health of the product, is the minister aware of the international proposals that are being circulated by the Codex committee on food ad...
Lewis Macdonald:
Lab
I agree with the principle that any decision on such matters should be based on sound science. Of course, we look to the Food Standards Agency as our authori...
Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
A lot of positive things are being said today but, as George Lyon mentioned earlier, there are people out there who are under real pressure. Will the ministe...
Lewis Macdonald:
Lab
I deliberately began my remarks on trade defence with a reference to the banks and investment. Jim Mather's point is pertinent; it is critical that the banks...
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
The minister's first update on the strategic framework for aquaculture and other measures is welcomed by the Scottish National Party. However, we consider th...
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab):
Lab
Will the member concede that the ministerial focus on dedicating efforts to dealing with the Norwegian blight that is the dumping of cheap imports on Europea...
Rob Gibson:
SNP
It is a priority that I will address in a minute. I am talking about some of the priorities of small producers now. I wonder whether Mr Morrison deals with a...
George Lyon:
LD
Will the member give way?
Rob Gibson:
SNP
I am sorry, I must make progress.Fish farming has come a long way in the past 20 years, but it has a long way to go if it is to access sustainable fish oil a...
George Lyon:
LD
The member is more than seven minutes into his speech and he has not yet addressed the fundamental point that we are here to discuss today, which is the econ...
Rob Gibson:
SNP
I am trying to point out that many aspects of the industry need to be sustainable. The smallest producers of all, which I mentioned earlier, are a part of th...
Lewis Macdonald:
Lab
Will Mr Gibson confirm that he understands the point that, in order for an effective and definitive safeguard to be put in place, there needs to be a process...
Rob Gibson:
SNP
Let us face it—the problem is that the Commission should have started a bit sooner.Praise is due to individual fish-farm businesses such as Loch Duart Ltd an...
Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
Although Scotland's aquaculture industry is diverse and extremely valuable, I will concentrate my remarks on farmed salmon because, as we have heard, it make...
Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green):
Green
Does the member agree that the industry did not dispute the findings on the levels of pollutants, but disputed the conclusion of the study, which found that,...
Mr Brocklebank:
Con
The member is trying to squirm her way round the results that came out. However, the industry suggests that the scientific basis on which the study was carri...
Lewis Macdonald:
Lab
Does Mr Brocklebank accept that the correct way to address regulation, the promotion of the product and the other issues that he has mentioned is to do so in...
Mr Brocklebank:
Con
I, too, talk to the industry and I get a feeling of tremendous unease from it that things are taking so long while it is bleeding away. We are talking about ...
Lewis Macdonald:
Lab
I return to the point that I made earlier. Does Mr Brocklebank accept that those targets have been set in collaboration with the industry and that many of th...
Mr Brocklebank:
Con
How does the minister respond to the fact that we are considering an industry in crisis? We cannot go on talking for ever. That strong point is being made by...
Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green):
Green
I welcome the tacit admission in the title of the Executive's motion that we have a long way to go before sustainability in aquaculture is achieved in Scotla...
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
Is Robin Harper aware of the evidence that was presented to the Rural Affairs Committee in the first session of Parliament during that committee's scrutiny o...
Robin Harper:
Green
I am well aware of that. However, it is—if one compares what has happened on the west coast with what has happened on the east coast, and if one considers th...
George Lyon:
LD
Last week we heard the Greens championing the interests of farmers in their fight against supermarkets and in respect of their need for a sustainable future....