Commitment to co-operate key to sustainable future

Commenting on the sixteenth Area Management Agreement that was signed in Skye yesterday as part of the Tri-Partite Working Group, Sid Patten, Chief Executive of Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation (SSPO), made the following remarks in today's Scotsman newspaper:

The commitment to co-operation between wild fish interests and salmon farmers in Skye is key to ensuring a sustainable future for both sectors and to delivering continued economic prosperity to the region.

The new Area Management Agreement (AMA) is the sixteenth to be signed as part of the Tri-Partite Working Group, which was set up in 1999 between the wild fish sector, fish farmers and the then Scottish Executive.

AMAs involve discussion between all parties with the aim of reaching local agreement on local issues. In many of the areas it is the first time that all parties have sat down together to discuss the way forward for their particular loch systems.

Regional Development Officers (RDOs) help to facilitate the process and are crucial to the on-going success of the initiative. One such success was highlighted earlier this year when RDOs reported significant downward trends of sea lice numbers on farmed and wild fish.

Part of the development process of the fish farmers’ Code of Good Practice involved a consultation with the industry’s critics, from which the standards that farmers must demonstrate were created. A core principle of the Code is that it is to be an evolving document, designed to embrace new science so that it becomes established as a modern reflection of good aquaculture practice.

The industry recognises that it must grow sustainably if it is to continue to build on its successes and it continues to work extremely hard to improve its record on containment.

Such initiatives demonstrate that the salmon farming industry is committed to environmental issues.

Looking ahead, the focus of the TWG must be on the free exchange of information and greater co-operation from both sides. Both sectors contribute greatly to the well-being of the area and we look forward to participating in the latest AMA in Skye.

Sid Patten
Chief Executive
Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation

END

For further information, contact Ken Hughes, 01738 587 006 / 07974 173739.

back to media releases and website news