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SEPA is ultimately answerable to the Scottish Government. We have a positive working relationship, and the work that we take forward through the Scottish Aquaculture Council is really important in that. It brings together all the key stakeholders: industry, environmental organisations and the key regulatory bodies that are involved in aquaculture in Scotland. I am really trying to facilitate those wider discussions. Last week, as I said, we had a meeting at which we went into detail about the science report that we received on some of those recommendations. We have positive relationships there.

Again, it is not possible for me to give a definitive figure for that. We want the level to be as low as possible. With some of the figures that you talked about, it is hard to say, because there are things that we cannot predict. I talked about what could have been a specific event last year; we do not know whether that could become a trend that would become more of an issue.

I want to correct your point that it is not mandatory to report mortality. The industry must record it—that is a mandatory requirement. We talked about the inspection regime, how that information is collected and the role of the fish health inspectorate. I want to be clear on that point.

It can vary between 15 per cent and 25 per cent.

Yes—absolutely. In previous responses this morning, I have touched on the work that has been undertaken through the farmed fish health framework. You are right: we are five years on from its establishment. There was a refresh in 2020. The group is chaired by the chief vet, and it brings together the producers, regulators and innovation centres. Fish vets are part of that body, as well. At the time of the refresh, the group looked to refocus its priorities, and the key priorities to focus on were climate change, looking at treatments, and trying to address mortalities throughout that time.

I mentioned in a previous response that one of the key achievements within that time has been the standardised reporting of mortalities. The group has worked on and produced the 10 overarching categories into which they would fall. Work has been done in partnership with SAIC, as well—SAIC has been leading on that—in looking at some of the issues that we know that the industry faces. For example, that work has looked at harmful algal blooms. They are also looking at potentially trying to remove the barriers to vaccination.

A lot of work has been undertaken, and a lot of work is on-going. If the committee would like a fuller update on the work that has been undertaken through the farmed fish health framework, I would be happy to provide that.

We want to see as few as possible. We have the minimum thresholds and, as I said, we will keep them under review. Industry has to report the numbers—there is a mandatory requirement for it to do so, and the numbers are posted a week in arrears. As I highlighted in my previous response, the vast majority are already below our minimum thresholds. The work that we are taking forward through the sea lice framework will be critical. We really need that to be embedded before we consider whether it is appropriate to continue to lower the thresholds.

As I said, there is a mandatory requirement for industry to publish the figures. The fish health inspectorate has a role to play in that. Its role is to audit that information, and it also undertakes inspections. We therefore inspect, audit and check.

That is what I am coming to, but it is important to outline our position in relation to the framework, because it sets the context in which progress has been made. SEPA has assumed responsibility for the authorisation of discharge of treatment residues from wellboats. That responsibility transferred from Marine Scotland to SEPA. Responsibility for other areas is in the process of being transferred to SEPA, so it will be looking at the cumulative impact of the different issues within our marine environment. So, there have been improvements in that regard. Officials might want to come in on some of the specifics.

On the science, the Scottish Science Advisory Council’s report highlights some of the intrinsic problems that exist and how different science can be used by different people. We need to consider those issues. Obviously, we have to consider the recommendations that we have received on how we communicate that, which will probably help us to find a way through. That is exactly why we asked the advisory council for its report.

A lot of that will also be helped by the work of the consenting task group and what it is trying to do to establish multilateral engagement at the start of the process, as well as all the other pieces of work that we have touched on this morning. SEPA is looking to introduce the new sea lice framework in order to look at the impacts on the marine environment holistically through its own framework. All those strands of work are important in addressing that point.

Jill Barber can talk through the process that is followed by the fish health inspectorate and its role.

It is really important that communities are able to have their say. Indeed, we specifically recognised and mentioned that point when we talked about introducing and bringing forward a vision for sustainable aquaculture in Scotland. Of course, we are in the process of developing all of that, and I hope to be in a position soon to share it with the committee, but you will see the role specified in that.

It is the same in my community, your community or whatever community: when a proposal for development arises, it is right and fair that people have the ability to make their views known as the planning process proceeds. We recognise that within the planning process as it exists. Again, I come back to the work that has been taken forward through the consenting task group. The multilateral discussion that takes place at an earlier stage, and that we hope will involve communities, is a key element of the process. It is important that those discussions are held at the earliest possible stage in developments and that communities are engaged with as much as possible.