Scottish salmon industry bids farewell to Lord Lindsay and welcomes new Chairman, Michael Gibson CBE

The Scottish salmon farming industry will honour Lord Lindsay for his significant contribution as chairman of Scottish Quality Salmon (SQS) with a special presentation at the Crown Estate Scottish Salmon Farm Awards ceremony in Strathpeffer on Thursday 1st June.

Jamie Lindsay led Scottish Quality Salmon and its predecessor bodies for over eight years and in that time was instrumental in developing a range of opportunities and commitments that have enabled the industry to engage with its key stakeholders. This included the launch of the Tripartite Initiative with SQS members, wild fish interests and the Scottish Executive to benefit the long-term future of both wild and farmed salmon. The Tripartite project now has 14 Area Management Agreements where those involved in loch systems collaborate and co-operate successfully to manage local issues.

He was also influential in raising industry issues in Edinburgh, Westminster and Brussels and was a key player in the Ministerial Working Group on Aquaculture, which contributed to the Strategic Framework for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture, launched in 2003. He is known as a staunch advocate of environmental management systems and many of the industry’s now well-established, independent auditing procedures for demonstrating responsible and sustainable practices.

Latterly, he co-chaired an interim Board with Dr Andy Jackson, formerly of Marine Harvest, during the process of integrating all Scotland’s salmon industry interests into a new national representative body, Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation (SSPO), with a core commitment to the national Code of Good Practice. Speaking of his time in the industry, Lord Lindsay commented, “The industry is vital to Scotland in terms of the rural economy, food exports, employment and the future livelihood of many remote and island communities. I hope therefore that the SQS commitment to developing a demonstrably responsible and sustainable regime will prove to have made a lasting contribution to Scottish Salmon and to all whose interests are connected with the industry.”

Jamie Lindsay paid tribute to Andy Jackson, his co-chair over the past months and wished him every success in his new position at International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organisation (IFFO). Dr Jackson received a presentation from his friends and colleagues at the same event.

Also attending the Awards ceremony will be Michael Gibson CBE, the new Chairman for the industry organisation. Mr Gibson comes to the salmon farming industry with over 30 years experience in the North East as a primary beef producer, processor, judge and consultant. He was a founder board member of the Food Standards Agency and chaired the independent Scottish Food Advisory Committee advising the Agency in Scotland. He is a member of the Scottish Food & Health Committee and was appointed Chairman of the Macaulay Institute in December 2005.

He commented on his appointment, “I am very pleased and honoured to be the new Chairman of the SSPO and will make it my primary objective to make sure this vital industry in some of Scotland’s most vulnerable areas receives its true recognition for its contribution to the social, economic and nutritional wellbeing of Scotland and beyond.”

Mr Gibson will take up his position on 1st June.

Notes to Editors
To arrange an interview with Mr Gibson please call Julie Edgar on 0789 987 5151 or the numbers below.
The new Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation aims to represent salmon farming in regulatory and political matters. For the first time, industry members from mainland Scotland, Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland have joined together to ensure that the industry’s contribution to Scotland’s social, economic and commercial landscape is promoted, recognised and rewarded by its stakeholders.
Information about the Code of Good Practice can be found on www.scottishsalmon.co.uk

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Contact: Julie Edgar 01738 587000 or 0789 987 5151

Ken Hughes 01738 587006 or 07974 17373

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