Industry tributes as Tavish bows out of Holyrood
ONE of the Scottish salmon industry’s staunchest champions, Tavish Scott, is to stand down from frontline politics.
The former Liberal Democrat leader and MSP for the Shetlands was elected to the celebrated the importance of aquaculture in his constituency and beyond.
Scottish parliament in February, when MSPs discussed the Rural Economy and Connectiv was quick to defend a sector that boosts the economy and local employment.
‘Over the years, the industry has been rivers and by the Greens,’ said Scott, who is to take up a job as head of external affairs for
at Uyeasound in Unst looks out over a pristine marine landscape.
many years, for a variety of companies, and that have been said in the debate —they - tions of deliberate malpractice by people in the industry.
‘A lot of people do not seem to know the - companies.
- people who are employed by the industry in parts of Scotland who simply would not have ‘Unst,Yell and Fetlar are the best examples on those islands and any number of hundreds of indirect jobs.Those jobs and the communities on those islands would not exist were it not for that industry.
‘The idea that those people deliberately issues of sea lice, mortality and so on is a line
farmed salmon is in Shetland, and it is worth
‘The issue is not just about the direct jobs in the industry; it is about the indirect jobs
centres, all of which employ people from constituencies in the central belt of Scotland who
‘The issue is not just about rural areas; it
industry is to the economic and social well of Scotland.
his new ventures.’
- portance to his constituents.
‘Therefore, when he speaks on the subject, he speaks with authority, whether that’s - enjoy the same opportunities to prosper as
‘As a farmer himself,Tavish also under livestock of any kind and has invested a lot of to farm evermore responsibly.
leave Scottish politics but wish Tavish every
MSP,Tavish Scott has been a tireless and dili
advocate of the sector and understood its importance to the Shetland community and
sector, he took the time to learn about all as on several occasions.
parliamentary debates helped showcase the sector’s innovation and his enthusiasm in the Scottish parliament will be missed.
‘We would like to thank Tavish for his support and wish him all the best in his new role
“He has always recognised how vital our industry is to the economic and social wellbeing of these islands and indeed the whole of Scotland”