Question reference: S5W-30325
- Date lodged: 30 June 2020
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 28 July 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the process of licensing fish farms includes consideration of the presence of seals in the vicinity and any previous incidence of conflict between fish farms and seals.
Answer
Fish farms are required to comply with multiple regulatory regimes. In terms of the fish farm equipment, a marine licence is required however an exemption may apply where the installation is not considered to cause obstruction or danger to navigation. The siting of individual fish farms and associated environmental considerations, including the presence of marine mammals, are a matter for local authorities who deal with each new fish farm site on its merits through the terrestrial planning process.
Fish farm operators may also choose to apply for a seal licence. Currently, the application process for seal licences requires applicants to provide information on suspected seal predation events and seal presence in the 12 months prior to application and this information is used in the determination of the application. The Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 will remove two of the grounds for which Scottish Ministers can grant a licence to kill or take seals; namely to prevent serious damage to fisheries or fish farms, and to protect the health and welfare of farmed fish. This will mean that fisheries and fish farms will no longer be able to apply for a licence for the purpose of preventing serious damage to fisheries or fish farms, or to protect the health and welfare of farmed fish once the provisions are commenced.