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The following data relates to information held by the Scottish Government on Aquaculture Production Businesses (APB) and authorisation to operate under regulation 6 of the Aquatic Animal Health (Scotland) Regulations 2009 for animal health purposes only.

How many finfish aquaculture sites have (a) been closed and (c) surrendered their licence since 1 January 2018:

• There have been 25 finfish aquaculture farm sites de-registered and no longer in operation;
• There have been 57 finfish aquaculture farm sites inactivated as they are either in long term fallow or there are no current plans to stock them, although the APB may still be in operation;
• There have been 15 finfish APBs de-registered, no longer in operation which have surrendered authorisation to operate;
• There have been 15 finfish APBs which are registered as non-producing businesses, and have no farm sites in operation, which have surrendered authorisation to operate.
• How many finfish aquaculture sites have (b) had their licence withdrawn since 1 January 2018 (withdrawn being interpreted by the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) as removal by the competent authority for enforcement purposes):
• There have been no finfish aquaculture farm sites which have been withdrawn from an APB’s authorisation to operate;
• There have been no finfish APBs which have had their authorisation to operate withdrawn.
• The reasons for any aquaculture site ceasing to operate are a decision made by the commercial company operating the site and are not available to the FHI.

The industry in Scotland already operates to robust environmental regulations and delivers high standards and we are committed to working with the industry to make continuous improvements. In terms of environmental standards for aquaculture, most of the relevant powers are devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

The Fisheries Act 2020 and Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) ( Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) ) set out how the Scottish Government works with the rest of the UK, including the UK Government, to manage aquaculture noting that there is a significant difference in size and different focus between the industries.

We work jointly to ensure that Free Trade Agreements safeguard the health of farmed salmon. We also work closely with the UK Government via the Aquatic Animal Health Policy Group to improve and ensure biosecurity of trade and domestic movements of live aquatic animals, minimising risk of introduction and spread of disease within UK waters.

Aquaculture producers may operate a range of community funds and finance schemes to which local communities can apply. Scottish Government does not routinely collect or hold the details of individual contracts and funds.

Crown Estate Scotland has a remit to generate lasting value for Scotland from the natural resources in its care. Rents due from aquaculture leases granted by CES were reviewed in 2022 and following that “root and branch” review they have recently increased. Further information on the review and aquaculture rents is available on Crown Estate Scotland’s website: Root and branch review of aquaculture leasing complete | Crown Estate Scotland

A wide range of aquaculture research is published by universities and research institutes, both in Scotland and globally, including research by public bodies such as Scottish Environment Protection Agency, as well as by the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate. These publications are subject to established academic peer review processes and add to the evidence base which will be utilised by the industry, regulators, researchers and innovators.

On 11 January 2024 I launched the Scottish Government’s Marine Science and Innovation Strategy, which outlines how we can utilise the best evidence and data available for making informed management decisions to deliver on our Blue Economy Vision.

Local authorities are responsible for considering the potential environmental impacts of fish farms, including escaped fish, when determining planning applications. NatureScot, District Salmon Fishery Boards and Scottish Government Marine Directorate provide advice as statutory consultees.

Scottish Government Marine Directorate is responsible for monitoring and enforcement of containment and escapes provisions within the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007, Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2013 and the Fish Farm Record Keeping (Scotland) Order 2008.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24412 on 22 January 2024, to the answer to question S6W-23642 on 7 December 2023, and to the answer to question S6W-20127 on 21 July 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

Improving fish health, reducing mortality to lowest possible levels, and ensuring satisfactory measures are in place for the prevention, control or reduction of sea lice is the responsibility of aquaculture production businesses. The Fish Health Inspectorate’s main objective is to prevent the introduction and spread of listed and emerging fish and shellfish diseases in Scotland. This is achieved by statutory inspection and sampling programmes, providing advice and implementing regulatory functions in accordance with the relevant animal health regulations. Details of strengthened regulation of sea lice on fish farms introduced by the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate is provided in the response to S6W-24417 on‎ 22 January 2024.

Furthermore, over the time period the Scottish Government has also taken a collaborative approach to working with the sector, regulators, fish vets and innovation centres to better understand and address key health and welfare issues.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) does not have responsibility for the regulation of fish health. In October 2021 the Scottish Government identified SEPA as the lead body responsible for managing the risk to wild salmonids from sea lice from marine finfish farms. SEPA has subsequently developed a risk based framework for regulating sea lice emissions from fish farms which will be implemented from 1 February 2024.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

Our commitment of up to £500 million strategic investment over the next five years, with investment of £67 million in the next financial year, will allow the Scottish Government to capitalise on offshore wind supply chain opportunities across the country.

This commercial and grant investment will help stimulate and support private investment in the infrastructure and manufacturing facilities critical to the growth of our world-leading offshore wind sector, underlining our absolute determination to truly maximise the economic opportunities and benefits from our offshore wind potential.

The Scottish Government continues to work closely with the UK Government on the planned delivery for their Advanced Manufacturing Plan which outlines £960 million for a Green Industries Growth Accelerator focused on expanding manufacturing capacity across the country.

Our National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET) also sets out our ambition for Scotland to continue to take global leadership in the design, development and operationalisation within the renewables sector.

Our Making Scotland’s Future (MSF) programme helps ensure a coherent and focused approach to the provision of support to the manufacturing sector.

Centred within the MSF lies the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland which represents investment of £75 million from the Scottish Government and its agencies to which drives an industry-led research and development group with the mission to make Scotland a global leader in advanced, sustainable manufacturing.

In 2019 the Scottish Government strengthened its regulation of sea lice on fish farms by reducing the levels of sea lice per fish at which the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) increases monitoring of sea lice on a farm, or takes enforcement action. The Fish Farming Businesses (Reporting) (Scotland) Order 2020 introduced, for the first time, mandatory obligations on production businesses to report average sea lice numbers per fish on a weekly basis. This better supports the Fish Health Inspectorate’s assessment of whether satisfactory measures for the prevention, control or reduction of sea lice are in place. The data is published one week in arrears to promote transparency.

Mortality reporting was introduced in 2015 and I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24419 on 22 January 2024. From 2020 the FHI have altered their operational practice in relation to risk based surveillance and fish farm inspections, whereby inspectors will review documentation remotely in advance of onsite inspections, enabling inspectors to spend more time inspecting fish and farm operation.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

A wide range of aquaculture research is published by universities and research institutes, both in Scotland and globally, including research by public bodies such as SEPA, as well as the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate. Summaries of research are published by the Scottish Government Marine Directorate and SEPA on their websites and peer reviewed publications by all scientists may be accessed through a range online academic journals.

We are committed to making science as accessible as possible. The Scottish Shelf Model is a good example of a shared resource with vast array of applications which can be used by developed by the wider science community. We are working together to consider future aquaculture science evidence needs. Last year, I commissioned the Scottish Science Advisory Council (SSAC) to consider the use of science and evidence in aquaculture consenting. I look forward to working with stakeholders to further consider the recommendations made by the SSAC in their report this year.