There continues to be a high degree of public interest and concern about the number of fish farm escapes and their possible impact on wild stocks. For fish farmers, escapes represent a loss of valuable assets. For conservation and wild fish interests escaped fish have the potential to spread disease, compromise genetic integrity and increase competition in the freshwater environment.
The Scottish Government recognises the concerns and risks that escaped farmed fish can pose to wild stocks and that any risk of environmental impact should be reduced to a minimum.
Legislation concerning the reporting of fish farm escapes has been in place since 2002. The Registration of Fish farming and Shellfish Farming Businesses Amendment Order 2008 has now came into force. This requires that Scottish Ministers be notified in writing immediately where there is cause to suspect that there is significant risk an escape has occurred. Associated guidance for fish farmers called What to do in the Event of an Escape of Fish from a Farm is also available.
Containment is a priority action under the Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture. Through the strategic framework industry was tasked with producing its Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture which has been operational since 2006 and provides advice and guidance on containment standards, treatment practices, operational procedures and other best practice processes to protect the wider environment. Adherence to the code is a condition of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO) membership (representing 95% by tonnage of the Salmon Industry). The code is kept under constant review and is monitored by an independent "code of good practice management group" who report to the Ministerial Working Group on Aquaculture on progress and compliance.
The Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture is being renewed in 2008.
The Aquaculture & Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007 came into force in August 2007 and, amongst other things, makes relevant legal powers and provisions in relation to fish farms for containment and fish farm escapes. A Fishfarming Businesses (Record-Keeping) (Scotland) Order 2008 is now in place. It details what records and information fish farmers will be required to maintain, for inspection, in relation to sealice and containment Inspections for compliance with the Act will commence in November 2008. Copies of FRS inspectors guidance is available on FRS website.