 The next item of business is a statement by Fergus Ewing on progress in delivering a sustainable aquaculture sector. The cabinet secretary will take questions at the end of his statement, so there should be no interruptions. I call on Fergus Ewing, cabinet secretary, please. I am pleased to set out to Parliament the progress that is being made to deliver a sustainable aquaculture sector in Scotland. Last year, the Environment and Climate Change and Land Reform Committee and the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee made a contribution to debate on the farm salmon sector. The committee has concluded that the status quo in relation to regulatory arrangements for the sector was not an option. The Scottish Government agreed with that conclusion, and today's statement demonstrates our determination to deliver the necessary changes to strengthen those arrangements. Before I describe those changes, I want to make reference to wild salmonids and the potential impact on them from sea lice in and around fish farms. We are, of course, extremely concerned about the serious declines in wild Atlantic salmon populations right across the north-east Atlantic. The reasons for that are multifactorial. We have identified 12 major groups of pressures that are impacting on wild salmon stocks, and we recognise that aquaculture is one such pressure. Sea lice, of course, are ubiquitous in the marine environment and have the potential to impact both wild and farmed fish. That is why we established the salmon interactions working group, which is making good progress in collating recommendations for a future approach to managing farmed and wild fish interactions. That group is aided by a technical working group, which is developing practical arrangements for improving regulation in this area, and its work is informed by regulatory regimes elsewhere, including Norway's. Discussions are on-going to develop proposals, and the group aims to issue those for public consultation this summer. I mentioned the developments simply to emphasise that we are serious about delivering a broad programme of reform and that the changes that I am announcing today are only the first part of that programme. The Scottish Government has completed its review of our farmed fish sea lice policy. Two years have passed since changes to Scotland's farmed fish sea lice policy were last introduced, or to put it into context one fish farming cycle in the marine environment. As a result of that review, we will be making the following changes to the current policy. Firstly, we will be introducing new legislation in 2020 that will require all marine fish farms to report a weekly sea lice number to the Scottish Government's fish health inspectorate one week in arrears. The sector has already recognised that it must become more open and transparent and announced its own sea lice publication plans in the last year. However, we will be taking action to strengthen the statutory basis of our sea lice regime to ensure that there is consistency of approach and to deliver confidence in the system. The introduction of legislation will remove any ambiguity with regard to reporting requirements and deliver more detailed information at salmon and rainbow trout farms. Crucially, it will provide data to monitor specific farms and issues as they arise, as well as allow for further policy change if needed. To ensure openness and transparency, each and every sea lice report will be published. Secondly, we will reduce the current reporting and intervention thresholds from next reporting week from three and eight average adult female lice per fish to two and six respectively. Those thresholds are an average of adult female lice per fish on the farm, calculated by following established counting and recording protocols. That means that fish farms will now be expected to report to the Scottish Government's fish health inspectorate at much lower sea lice levels, allowing for earlier intervention and enforcement action. We will publish an updated enforcement information sheet to this effect, which will include a simplified enforcement process. Thirdly, today I am also committing in the medium term, unless there is compelling evidence to the contrary, to a further reduction of the sea lice reporting and intervention thresholds to two and four average adult female lice per fish. That further reduction will happen if confirmed by a review of the evidence 12 months following the implementation of the new statutory reporting regime. I mentioned earlier that the changes being made to the intervention levels are being introduced following just one fish farming cycle in the marine environment. It must be recognised that those timescales are actually very short in terms of the fish farming production cycle, and we must ensure that farmers are able to adapt and make necessary investments. Finally, I am announcing today that we will explore how to introduce third-party independent checks on fish farm sea lice counts to ensure the accuracy of the information provided to the Scottish Government. Taken together, Presiding Officer, those new measures signal a major shift from self to statutory regulation. They also seek to move to an approach that supports prevention through robust and independent monitoring. This new sea lice management policy will not operate in isolation. All marine salmon producers will continue to follow the code of good practice for Scottish fin fish aquaculture, which includes points of compliance on sea lice and national treatment standards. Adherence to the code alongside voluntary monitoring and early intervention by salmon producers, as well as investment in new technologies, has resulted in the lowest annual average reported sea lice levels in 2018, since records have been made available back in 2013. The changes that I am announcing today will ensure that efforts to control and minimise the prevalence of sea lice will be maintained and indeed exceeded in future. The improvements to date have been supported by investment of £13 million of EU and Scottish Government funding through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund since 2016, in 48 aquaculture projects that unlock more than £25 million total sector expenditure in innovation and new technologies to address the issue. Hydrolyser, thermaliser and perma-skirt technologies to tackle sea lice have all been supported in addition to cleaner fish hatchery projects. At the same time, the sector has also invested around £53.5 million over the past three years on lice-removing technologies. The review of the salmon sea lice policy has been progressed as a key strand of Scotland's 10-year Farmed Fish Health Framework. Work is also under way through that framework to ensure that we lead on information sharing, on support and we promote innovation in fish health management and deliver on other sea lice actions, such as creating a sea lice modelling and farm connectivity action plan. A wider update on progress and all those strands will be provided to Parliament in due course. This week, SEPA also published a new fin fish regulatory framework. That framework seeks to strengthen the protection of Scotland's marine environment, enabling the sustainable growth of aquaculture in the right places, and will be implemented through improvements to the existing car licensing process. SEPA is now using the best modelling available so that they are able to better predict and monitor environmental effects. In addition to the introduction and the enforcement of a tighter organic waste standard, this improved modelling will mean that risks to the local environment will be better understood and can be better managed. The approach will allow the assessment of larger-scale impacts, including interactions with other farms, to be carried out. Tougher regulation will ensure that farms are sighted in the most appropriate areas. It also means that those sites that may have the potential to sustainably increase without threatening seabed environmental standards will be able to do so. Taken together, those measures demonstrate the progress that has been made to change our approach to regulating the aquaculture sector. They also show our intention to continue to work with industry and alongside our independent regulator to ensure that appropriate and proportionate action is being taken to allow the sector to grow sustainably whilst protecting our marine environment. Ensuring that growth in Scottish aquaculture is sustainable is key to its future success. In conclusion, we must continue to apply high health and welfare standards to ensure that Scotland can continue to produce a world-class and quality product that is one of the most eco-efficient and sustainable forms of healthy protein available to feed a growing global population. The cabinet secretary will now take questions on the issues raised in the statement. I intend to allow around 20 minutes. Can I ask those members who wish to ask a question to press their request to speak buttons down? I call Peter Chapman. We are followed by Rhoda Grant. I thank the cabinet secretary for prior sight of his statement. Let me be quite clear. I welcome this statement. The Scottish Salmon reports from both the REC and the Eclair Committee showed that the status quo was unacceptable. It is positive to hear of the progress that the salmon interactions working group and the technical working group are making. It is important to recognise that, if the industry is to grow, it must grow sustainably. I welcome the announcement of new legislation that will require salmon farms to publish weekly life numbers and the reduction in reporting and intervention thresholds as that follows on again from advice from the REC Committee report. It is important that those figures are published, however. Can I ask the cabinet secretary to outline when those weekly life number reports will actually be published? I appreciate the cabinet secretary acknowledging his plan. Time scales for the introduction of the legislation is short. It is important that fish farmers are able to forward their plan and make the necessary preparation and upgrades to make that happen. However, it is correct and important that the legislation comes into being early in 2020. I ask the cabinet secretary to give us a clearer time scale when, within 2020, the new regulations will come into being. Finally, the appropriate technologies are essential to carry out life checks, especially if they are to be done on a weekly basis. Can the cabinet secretary highlight what support will be made available to smaller fish farms that might not have the funds or infrastructure to achieve that timeously? I very much welcome the fact that, Mr Chapman, on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, is taking that approach. That is very much appreciated and it reflects the cross-party support for sustainable agriculture that we heard in the major debate that we had on the committee's In response to his question, when will the legislation come into force? Parliament will be aware that uncertainties remain surrounding Brexit and the potential for changes in the legislative timetable. Those are practical aspects that the First Minister and the Minister for Parliamentary Business and indeed the cabinet must take into account. Given those uncertainties, it is not possible to be categoric at the current time. However, I expect that the legislation will come into force in 2020. I think that it may be helpful to Mr Chapman to say that my officials are considering the specific reporting requirements of new legislation and I can confirm that draft legislation will be put to public consultation for full scrutiny, open, transparent and straightforward. That is what we require. He raises a second question—I think that it was about support for those companies in the farm salmon sector that are smaller, that are perhaps less financially resourced than the majors, which are very robust and substantial companies by and large. We obviously will wish to see that all possible practical support is available to all those players who operate on that basis. However, I recognise that, across the board, there has been a tremendous desire, demonstration and action by all the companies that are involved to ensure that they are taking necessary steps, including substantial investment, to address the problems such as sea lice levels, amoebic gill disease and other issues in a robust and comprehensive fashion. I was very pleased that the reports indicate that sea lice levels last year, reported by the sector, are at the lowest level for six years. That proves that substantial progress has been made and I am very pleased that Mr Chapman has welcomed that. Rhoda Grant, followed by Mark Ruskell. I also thank the cabinet secretary for the prior sight of the statement. Aquaculture is extremely important for the economy of rural Scotland and therefore it is imperative that we get the regulation right in order to build an excellent reputation for our produce. It is not just the economy, it is also important for our health, as our diet often lacks enough oily fish. The cabinet secretary states that the technical working group is developing practical arrangements for improving regulation. Both the industry and those expressing concerns cite the Norwegian system as providing the best regulatory regime. It is both more streamlined but, crucially, it also focuses on animal health. Therefore, can I ask the cabinet secretary why delay in implementing a system along those lines of Norway? I do appreciate the support for the sector that Rhoda Grant has indicated. I do not think that it is a fair charge to say that we are delaying. Changes must be made with regard to the cycle, a two-yearly cycle, and I made that clear in my opening statement. With regard to Norway, I am often questioned as to why the Norwegian fish farming industry works in a different way. The Scottish Government's sea-lice compliance policy does not operate in isolation. It acts as a backstop on occasions when things go wrong. The two systems are different. In many ways, the system is said by third parties to be robust in Scotland, but there are areas where we need to improve. One of them is the regulation of sea-lice. That is why I have taken the steps today to make the announcements that tighter standards shall be introduced. I am pleased that the industry has worked closely with us in developing the policy. I am pleased that the industry and stakeholders are working on the various groups of the fish health framework and the various sub-committees, including in relation to Wild Salmon. I think that working together in Scotland and in particular listening very carefully to practical ways in which we can make progress is the key. However, today it illustrates that we are taking steps to tighten the regulation with regard to sea-lice. I am very pleased that the industry has welcomed the approach that we are taking. Mark Ruskell, I have 10 members and I have 13 minutes, so I ask you to be neat with your questions so that members get in. Mark Ruskell fell by Tabush Scott. I thank the cabinet secretary for prior sight of the statement. He will be aware that there is still a serious concern with large fish farms being granted consent by being broken up into two or more applications when they are operating as a single farm, which means that cumulative environmental impacts are not fully considered. SEPA has said that the new modelling… No, I would like your question please, Mr Ruskell. Will the cabinet secretary commit to reviewing existing farms that were granted permission under multiple applications using the new modelling that SEPA has just announced to give an accurate picture of their impact? I think that the existing system contains provision for monitoring, as we well know, and what we are doing today indicates that tighter standards will apply in relation to sea-lice. That is one of several aspects. I also covered in my statement, as Mr Ruskell heard, the measures that SEPA is taking with regard to the use of treatments. I am very pleased that the industry has invested very substantially in alternatives to treatments, in thermalisers, in cleaner fish, in skirting and in other techniques. The progress that it is making is very substantial. I do not think that I can agree to Mr Ruskell's request. I note that SEPA has suggested a different form of modelling. It is there to bring that forward and put it into action. We look forward to working very carefully with SEPA to achieve the shared aim that I hope we all support of an increasingly sustainable aquaculture sector in Scotland. I thank the cabinet secretary for his statement. He will be aware that the Norwegian industry is trialling a mechanism to filter fish medicines out of the water that are used to treat fish. Will he immediately ensure that those trials are replicated in Scotland to the benefit of the marine environment and to industry? Will he reject any further consideration of a fish farm feed limit per farm, given its well-known damaging consequences on fish quality, given again, as Norway has demonstrated? I welcome Mr Scott's support as always for the sector. He is a stalwart supporter of the aquaculture sector. It is extremely important in his constituency. We absolutely welcome the development of Benchmark's clean-treat system that has been trialled in Norway. I am delighted that there are already discussions with Scottish regulators regarding a Scottish trial. It is not up to me to decide whether that trial should go ahead, but I think that it makes sense, as Mr Scott has indicated, that we should be trialling new innovative products and techniques that can help to secure the objective that we all share of a sustainable sector. With regard to the feed limit, I am advised that SIPA is considering whether moving to using a feed limit or retaining a biomass limit to regulate fish farms. Over the next three months, SIPA will consult with all interested stakeholders on those options. I am very pleased that they are going to engage substantially with industry. I am sure that Mr Scott will ensure that the companies operating in his constituency will play a part in those discussions. Jaleigh Martin and Fulva Edward Mountain. Salmon is one of our most important food exports. Can I ask the cabinet secretary how the industry has performed this year and what the industry is doing to improve its environmental sustainability credentials? The industry is performing well. It directly employs more than 2,000 people and contributes around £220 million in gross value added to the economy. The wider impacts across the supply chain are estimated at £620 million in GVA and 12,000 jobs. The jobs are, as I have said before, very well remunerated. The average annual salary in the farming sector is around £34,000. Many of those jobs are on the edge of the periphery, where there frankly are no other alternative opportunities of this type. That is extremely important. With regard to their spend, the company's sector as a whole has contributed enormously to improving their operation and sustainability. Moe Wee has invested around £100 million in its Calacan feed plant and £26.5 million in a new hatchery at Inchmore Glen Morriston, which is the privilege of opening. The Scottish Sea Farms has invested around £58 million in its new hatchery at Balcaradown. A recently announced that it will invest £1.2 million in new feed barges. The Scottish Salmon company has invested substantially, as has Cook Aquaculture, Galeforce and others. That is an industry that is investing very heavily and those investments are directly going to improve the sustainability of aquaculture. I welcome the general thrust of those proposals, which I believe will help fish farms to become better neighbours to those who share their environment. Is there a plan to increase enforcement once those proposals are brought in? We know that enforcement in the sector has been poor in the past—very poor. Obviously, enforcement plays a part. The higher standards are primarily intended to further drive forward and improve practice. I should say that, although we have tightened up from three to eight to two to two and six, the actual performance of many of most of the companies is far, far higher than—Mr Mountain shakes his head, but I am afraid that the facts that I have indicate that the actual levels of sea lice found are very, very much lower. The question of enforcement is important. Enforcement must be taken independently by those responsible for that, and that will continue. I am not sure that I would accept the thesis that Mr Mountain makes, but I would say that we take enforcement very seriously indeed. The steps that I have announced today that the process will have an independent audit aspect will increase the transparency that everyone, I hope, supports. Can the cabinet secretary outline why a phased approach is being taken with sea lice numbers and how have the chosen figures been arrived at? The phased approach is taken because we believe that that is the correct approach to drive forward best practice, while enabling companies to alter and improve their practice to enable that to be done in practical terms. We have indicated the tightening up of the regulation today, and I think that that is something that the companies regard as welcome in order to demonstrate the good work that is being done, further to improve fish health in Scotland. Claudia Beamish, followed by Kenneth Gibson. I welcome the commitment today for compulsory public reporting of sea lice data on a farm-by-farm basis and other measures. That reflects an amendment to the agriculture bill that I had six years ago but was rejected by the Scottish Government at that time. Also on the welfare of farm fish, can the cabinet secretary reassure the chamber that any plans for closed containment will be fully tested against animal welfare standards and that, on the other end of the scale, seaper shift to encouraging applications for larger fish farms and deeper waters will not simply disperse the fish, faeces and medicines more widely in the marine environment, pushing it out of sight and out of mind? That is on the edge of being too long, but never mind, cabinet secretary. Yes, I can confirm the impacts on all forms of the marine system, including marine life, will be considered very carefully. I can assure you that all aspects of providing a sustainable aquaculture industry in Scotland will be considered in relation to future applications. Kenneth Gibson, followed by Jamie Greene. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Can the cabinet secretary confirm that any provision that is being taken forward will not impact adversely on businesses working closely with the aquaculture industry, such as W&J, Knox and Kilburney, founded in 1778, which employs 130 local people, cleaning and repairing nets and is at the forefront of developing technology to stop lice, penetrating into fish tanks and dissuade seals in non-lethal ways from eating the fish. I think that it illustrates the point that the jobs are not all on our coasts on our islands. Many of the jobs that are sustained now by this industry are inland, in our towns and cities, and throughout Scotland. It is an important Scottish industry. It is not solely confined to the periphery, and companies such as W&J and Knox are vital to the excess of industry. Seal management is our priority, and Mr Gibson has eloquently pointed out the improved practices that the company and its constituency are contributing to achieve. Jamie Greene, followed by Alasdair Allan. Cabinet secretary, you used the words, tough the regulation will ensure that farms are cited in the most appropriate areas, but one of the recommendations by the committee was to address the issue of relocation of historically purely cited farms. What special assistance will be given to fish farms that want to relocate but are facing regulatory or financial barriers to doing so? Cabinet secretary? The appropriate location of sites is a material factor taken into account in all applications. That approach will be followed by the various parties involved, as Mr Greene knows, in the question of the operation of existing sites, as well as the appropriate sighting of new sites. Those are very much matters that will be taken into account. If Mr Greene has any particular concerns, I will be very happy to hear from him about them. Alasdair Allan, for by Maureen Watt. In light of his welcome announcements today, what steps does the cabinet secretary intend to take to promote closer working between SEPA, Crown Estate Scotland and other agencies? Well, I think that my colleague Roseanna Cunningham has joined me and has pointed out that she has responsibility in respect of SEPA. I think that we all, and the Crown Estate, she adds. I think that we all accept in the Scottish Government the duty of all public bodies, Scottish Government agencies and regulators, to work as a team, working together, achieving our different purposes in the case of regulators' statutory functions. As I am sure is an uppermost in the minds of members, all regulators are bound by the terms of the Regulatory Reform Act 2014, in particular, in section 4. Maureen Watt. The key to success in this relatively new industry is innovation. A great example of this can be seen in the creation of the international centre for aquaculture research and development at the University of Aberdeen with its innovative farm to fork approach. What other investment in our ladling institutions throughout Scotland is going on in this area? What very substantial investment is going on in respect of research, as I outlined in my initial statement. That investment is seen in bodies such as SAC, the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre, headed up by Heller-Jones, which does excellent work. As well as the Scottish Government, having invested around £13 million in research, that has levered in £25 million from industry. Recently, my colleague Roseanna Cunningham has enabled the investment of £500,000 into research about how we improve the general issue of interactions between wild salmon and other multifactorial issues. We are investing heavily because this is extremely important to Scotland, both as an industry and clean environment. Both objectives go hand in hand.