Big plans
In this issue we focus on the education and training of the next generation of fish and shellfish farmers. The industry has taken the lead in providing its new recruits with the skills they need to progress, and much of today’s learning takes place on the job. For those entering the sector with degrees, there are exciting new post-graduate courses, often with generous public funding, that offer unprecedented opportunities for the aquaculture leaders of tomorrow.
Some of this young talent will remain in Scotland, and if they are to fulfil their potential, the industry needs to develop and grow alongside them. Although the Scottish government has set ambitious targets for expansion, farmers are unlikely to meet them unless the current cumbersome planning system is reformed. Ministers have the chance this month to demonstrate they are serious about growing Scotland’s aquaculture industry when the long awaited Consenting Review lands on their desks. Industry leaders have made several recommendations and now it is up to the government to act. A good place to start perhaps would be to streamline the excessive bureaucracy and merge the statutory bodies involved in the planning process - a move that would not only speed up applications but also save money.
Growing the industry also depends on positive public perceptions, an issue that was addressed by North American experts at the recent World Aquaculture Society conference in Las Vegas. Within one generation, they said, the fish farming industry will become a normal part of the economic and social fabric of coastal communities in much the same way as terrestrial farming. We share their view - and applaud their optimism.