Press Release

THE CROWN ESTATE ANNOUNCES FUNDING AND MEASURES TO SUPPORT AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY

1 April 2004

Frank Parrish, Head of Marine Estate at The Crown Estate, today announced, at a salmon farming industry seminar in Shetland, an additional £600,000 of funding, in addition to other measures, aimed at supporting Scotland's troubled aquaculture industry.  This new funding complements an existing commitment to both aquaculture research and the broader Marine Stewardship Fund.

The Crown Estate recently commissioned an economic analysis of Scotland's aquaculture industry, to improve its understanding of the extent of the difficulties facing the industry, and to ascertain how its assistance could be targeted to best help the industry’s recovery. The Crown Estate has already deferred and rescheduled individual fish farm rents to assist those fish farmers with particular cash flow difficulties.

Frank Parrish, Head of Marine Estate at The Crown Estate, said: "The Crown Estate has a responsibility for, and role to play, in the management of marine resources. We are acutely aware of the current difficulties facing the aquaculture industry and wish to work with the industry and others to move forward to a position of greater certainty. We want to support and be part of an environmentally responsible and sustainable industry and are happy to discuss payment plans for fish farm rents, including deferred and rescheduled rents, with any and all fish farmers who are facing difficulties at this time."

The Crown Estate has discussed the situation with aquaculture industry associations, individual companies, the Scottish Executive and others with a direct interest. As a result it has earmarked up to £600,000 to be spent over the next two years as a contribution towards an industry 'recovery package'. The following measures are currently being considered:

• Contributing in partnership towards the underwriting of research to provide accurate data on chemical residues in farmed fish, and the establishment of a team of health and environment specialists to analyse and clarify this data and other science
• Contributing to Government and industry marketing and branding initiatives to restore consumer confidence in farmed fish, and to promote the Scottish aquaculture industry and its products
• Implementing a basic industry reporting mechanism able to forecast production and trends
• Underwriting research to review the allowable zone of effect (AZE) to take account of variable site dispersal characteristics, especially at higher energy fish farm sites
• Supporting an annual industry good practice/quality award for marine-related community projects
• In partnership with Government and industry bodies, promoting good practice and the adoption of recognised and independently-audited quality standards.

As well as these measures to directly assist the aquaculture industry, The Crown Estate is also involved in wider initiatives, throughout Scotland and has contributed towards Coastal Framework Plans for Argyll and Bute Councils, a Coastal Zone Plan for The Highland Council, a Community Grant Scheme for the Moray Firth Partnership, the Firth of Clyde Forum, the annual conference of the Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers, and the establishment of a new toxin testing laboratory at the North Atlantic Fisheries College in Scalloway, Shetland.

The Crown Estate has also contributed to the funding of a Coastal Project Officer for the Scottish Coastal Forum, best practice seminars for the Moray Firth SAC, a marine innovation award for the Highland Biodiversity Partnership, and the Marine Conservation Society's 'Adopt a Beach - Scotland' campaign.

Frank Parrish continued: "When coupled with existing commitments to research and marine stewardship in Scotland, our total input to the aquaculture industry over the next two years will be more than £1 million. We aim to ensure we and the aquaculture industry get the best possible value out of this and believe that is the best way to support the aquaculture industry during this difficult period."