MSPs condemn fish industry strife

Feb 4 2013

The "tit for tat" relationship between parts of the fish farming industry and the wild fisheries sector has been condemned by MSPs.

Members of Holyrood's Rural Affairs Committee said the "adversarial" dealings between the two parts of the industry had hindered their scrutiny of new legislation. And they said improving the relationship between the two sectors was "perhaps of equal significance for Scotland in the long-term" as changing the law.

The Scottish Government has put forward a Bill which aims to reform the management of the fish farming and wild fisheries sectors.

Committee convener Rob Gibson said that both parts of the industry were of "critical importance to Scotland" because of their contribution to both the environment and the economy. But he added: "These sectors are clearly at loggerheads over a number of issues which has hindered our scrutiny of this Bill."

Members of the committee backed the general principles of the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill, but also argued it needed to be "more robust".

During their scrutiny of the legislation, MSPs visited salmon rivers, wild fisheries hatcheries, fish farms and processing plants to build up a detailed understanding of the industry. However, their report revealed that their work was "hindered by some of the more adversarial, tit-for-tat engagement of sections of both the aquaculture and wild fisheries sectors".

The committee said this led to them receiving "an excessive number of communications" from both sides "making claims and counter-claims". The MSPs added: "This made it difficult at times for the Committee to assess the best way forward."

And they said: "As important as this legislation is, perhaps of equal significance for Scotland in the long-term is improving the current relationship between the wild and farmed fishing sectors, with a view to establishing closer, productive, co-operative working relationships for the overall benefit of the people of Scotland and the environment."

Mr Gibson said: "Whilst the Committee does welcome this legislation, it is clear that it will need to be amended to ensure it is fully fit for purpose. Our Committee very much considers this the first step in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the aquaculture industry and the wild fisheries sector."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We welcome the Committee's report and its recommendation that the Bill should be allowed to pass to Stage 2. We are considering the detail of the Committee's recommendations as we move forward."