Producers discuss farming in deeper waters

REPRESENTATIVES from the Scottish salmon sector met other producers in Brussels in early April to discuss the challenges of moving sites to more exposed locations.

At the Marine Strategy Framework Directive event, hosted by the EC, delegates investigated new ways to grow production ca- pacity, including operating in deeper waters. Jamie Smith, technical executive for the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation, attended the meeting as the Scottish representative of FEAP (Federation of European Aquaculture Producers), along with other FEAP members from Spain, Denmark and Ireland.

He said: ‘Achieving consent is recognised as one of the biggest non-technical barriers to development in the marine environment.

‘As the industry looks at new, innovative ways to increase capacity in order to keep pace with demand, moving operations further out to sea is certainly a consideration.’