Information about aquaculture in Scotland will be easier to access thanks to a new website launched by the Scottish government.
The website will provide a central location for an integrated,
geographic and up-to-date view of aquaculture activity in Scotland.
It
includes an interactive map which can be customised for area of
interest; a searchable database of information about finfish farms and
shellfish harvesting areas; a view of how farm sites, leases and
licences relate together; and fully downloadable data for use in
spreadsheets and analysis tools.
This site is the result of a partnership project amongst the main aquaculture regulatory
and administrative bodies in Scotland - Scottish Environment Protection
Agency, Marine Scotland, The Food Standards Agency in Scotland and The
Crown Estate.
Paul Wheelhouse, Environment and Climate Change Minister said, “Aquaculture
was worth over £530 million to the Scottish economy in 2012 and is a
key sector to underpinning sustainable economic growth. It provides high
quality and secure employment particularly in our rural and coastal
communities and has significant potential to contribute further.
“This
website and database will see information being shared that will enable
better informed decisions to be made in view of all aquaculture
activity.
“The Scottish Government fully supports the aquaculture
industry’s ambition for sustainable growth with due regard to the
marine environment – as demonstrated in our Aquaculture and Fisheries
(Scotland) Act 2013. This will enable the aquaculture industry to
deliver on its 2020 growth targets as set out in the recent Marine Plan
Consultation document. I look forward to engaging further with the
sector and key stakeholders on the development of the sector through the
Ministerial Group on Sustainable Aquaculture.”
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