The Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs Committee today unveiled its report into the Impact of Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning on the Fisheries Sector.

Launching the report, committee convener Alex Johnstone said:

"It is with some mixed feelings that I announce the committee’s findings and recommendations into the impact of amnesic shellfish poisoning in Scotland.

"On the one hand, I am delighted that our committee will be one of the first Scottish Parliament committees to publish a formal report with significant recommendations. The down side is that we remain only too aware of the ongoing difficulties that our fisheries sector faces.

"With that in mind, I am pleased to be able announce a range of measures and observations on the sector which include:

• our strong recommendation that the government consider making further money available, in the current financial year, for research into the causes of shellfish toxicity

• a recommendation that continued funding be given to developing the procedures for the detecting and monitoring of toxins

• a recommendation encouraging the development of a more collaborative working relationship between government and the industry

• a recommendation that further research be done on the alleged link between fish farming and outbreaks of shellfish toxicity

• our wish to be advised should there be any changes in the government policy position which may enable financial compensation under new structural funds arrangements, and

• our wish to see arrangements put in place to allow the industry to recover from the impacts of the ban.

"Since the opening of the Scottish Parliament, much has been made of the need for a new style of consensus politics. My hope is that the recommendations from this report will play a constructive part in bringing together all of the key players, both government and industry, with an interest in safeguarding the future of the sector."

The full text of the Report (along with executive summary) is available on the Scottish Parliament website.

 BACKGROUND NOTES

Copies of the three-page summary can be faxed to members of the media on request from the Media Relations Office.

Printed copies of the report are available from outlets of the Stationery Office priced £11.30.

The committee’s membership is as follows:

John Munro, Alasdair Morgan, Alex Fergusson, Cathy Peattie, Alex Johnstone (convener), Irene McGugan, Elaine Murray, Mike Rumbles, Lewis Macdonald, Rhoda Grant and Richard Lochhead.