Leading salmon nations agree to work closer
SCOTLAND will work with other leading salmon producing nations to grow the aquaculture sector sustainably.
Scottish environment minister Aileen McLeod met with fisheries ministers from Canada, Chile and Norway ahead of the Aqua Nor show in Trondheim last month.
A joint statement signed by Norwegian fisheries minister Elisabeth Aspaker, Raul Sunico Galdames of Chile, Canada’s Matthew King and McLeod set out the long-term development of the aquaculture industry.
The ministers agreed to: promote the sustainable development of aquaculture through effective engagement of the participants’ regulatory administrations and agencies; encourage bilateral and multilateral cooperation at administrative, and where possible, political levels; exchange information, knowledge, and experiences relevant to the various aspects of aquaculture management on a regular basis; and support the mutual recognition and adoption of effective management tools to further promote sustainable aquaculture development.
All four ministers are strongly committed to growing the aquaculture industry in an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable way.
McLeod said: ‘This joint statement is good news for the future sustainable growth and development of Scotland’s aquaculture sector, which is worth over £1.75 billion to our economy annually and supports 8,000 jobs across the supply chain and supports international goals on food security, economic growth and environmental sustainability.
‘I look forward to sharing the successes and learning from the challenges that all our countries have experienced as we look to grow sustainably.
‘This will also be an opportunity to showcase our thriving aquaculture and service sector and our plans to grow the industry – through innovation and new technologies - to a turnover of over £2 billion to the Scottish economy every year and support 10,000 jobs annually by 2020.’