Scotland begins work on fish health framework
"...the Scottish Government’s focus on this sector is most welcome – ensuring robust and improved health and welfare standards as we head towards Brexit.”
The Scottish Government has begun work on a new framework to improve the health and welfare of farmed fish.
Key areas of the Strategic Framework for Fish Health will include sea lice, innovation, knowledge exchange, cooperation and openness.
Ronnie Soutar, president of the Fish Veterinary Society (FVS), attended the working group’s first meeting in Edinburgh yesterday (19 December), where he represented both the FVS and BVA.
Ahead of the meeting, he said: “Fish health and welfare are crucial to ensure sustainable Scottish aquaculture and the role of vets in minimising the impact of endemic and emerging diseases, and in acting as advocates for animal welfare, is as important in fish farming as in all other livestock production.
“We look forward to working together with Scottish Government and industry to develop a strong framework that will underpin legislation and guide best practice.”
The move was also welcomed by the BVA Scottish Branch.
President Melissa Donald said: “The importance of aquaculture to Scotland’s agri-industry cannot be underestimated, ranking as Scotland’s top food export and worth in excess of £650 million to the economy each year, so the Scottish Government’s focus on this sector is most welcome – ensuring robust and improved health and welfare standards as we head towards Brexit.”
A final draft framework is expected next spring.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
