Future Of Aquaculture And Fisheries

A consultation is underway to support a sustainable future for aquaculture and freshwater fisheries, and the effective management of interactions between these two sectors.

The consultation also includes proposals to update enforcement provisions for aquaculture and fisheries, and a review of the approach to cost sharing and charges. The consultation will inform the development of a new Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill, which will build on existing legislation, strategic frameworks and good practice.

Minister for Environment and Climate Change Stewart Stevenson said:

"Scotland is home to valuable aquaculture and freshwater fisheries sectors that make important economic contributions, particularly in remote, rural communities. We need to ensure that both these sectors - and in particular farmed salmon and wild salmon interests - can continue to develop and coexist harmoniously.

"Good progress has been made in recent years on a number of fronts. The Ministerial Group on Aquaculture has put focus on key issues and developments, including overseeing the renewal of a Strategic Framework for Aquaculture. Meanwhile the delivery of a Strategic Framework for Freshwater Fisheries and creation of local fishery plans has demonstrated the shared commitment to improved management of our recreational wild fisheries.

"Last year increased farmed salmon production was worth around £540 million, while 2010 figure for rod catches of wild salmon were the highest on record. This demonstrates that both sectors can be supported to grow and thrive together.

"But we must not be complacent. That's why we're consulting on possible changes and legislation to ensure continued and improved high standards of management in both sectors. We want to strike the right balance and not impose unnecessary or disproportionate burdens, therefore I welcome all views through the consultation phase."

The Aquaculture and Fisheries Consultation will run until March 2, 2012.

Aquaculture is mainly focused in the West and North of Scotland and employs over 1,500 people directly. Salmon farming, Scotland's largest food export, is the dominant area, while shellfish production is growing. In 2010 over 150,000 tonnes of farmed salmon was produced, up 6.9 per cent on the previous year and worth £539.6 million.

Scotland's freshwater fisheries are world famous and their management supports one of the largest Atlantic Salmon populations in Europe. Our native brown trout fisheries draw anglers from near and far to enjoy their sport. In 2010 the total rod catch for wild salmon was the highest on record, with 110,496 salmon and grilse caught.

£1.3m green energy boost for Africa

The Scottish Government is today seeking funding proposals to deliver high quality projects in Malawi and sub-Saharan Africa worth £1.3 million.

Speaking from the United Nations climate change conference in Durban, Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson officially opened the funding round and welcomed applications from Scottish organisations with relevant skills and expertise.

The Scottish Government is seeking proposals for renewable projects in Malawi and sub-Saharan Africa.Renewable energy is a priority area for the Scottish Government. Proposals are specifically welcomed which address this important issue by delivering sustainable energy for all and helping mitigate against the effects of climate change in developing countries.

The announcement of the latest round of the Scottish Government's International Development Fund comes as Scotland enters talks to pioneer the first pilot carbon capture programme (CCS) on African soil, Mr Stevenson announced today.

After delegates from the South African Centre for Carbon Capture and Storage (SACCCS) visited Scotland earlier this year, representatives from the Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage Centre (SCCS) will travel to South Africa in February to assess the feasibility of establishing a pilot Carbon Capture plant, as part of a South African programme developing capacity in this area.

Scotland is an international model of a low carbon economy and the Scottish Government wants to share expertise and technology with developing countries, who will be hit the hardest by a changing climate.

Mr Stevenson said:

"Scotland has a long legacy for pioneering successful projects - be it exploration or invention. Today's announcement ticks both these boxes.

"I am delighted to officially open the International Development funding rounds which will encourage high quality bids for renewable energy projects in Malawi, with projects of up to £400,000 in value. While in Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia we will fund one project in each country - a total of £1.3 million over three years. Renewable energy and food security are the main areas this funding will address. Scotland can play a vital role in helping these developing countries create a sustainable energy and hopefully an economic commodity.

"We also see huge potential in developing CCS technology in countries which use fossil fuels. We are happy to share our understanding of this emerging technique, which not only benefits the environment by reducing the amount of carbon ejected into the atmosphere, but also creates a new economic opportunity."

For example, by using mostly existing North Sea subsea infrastructure, Scotland would have the capacity to store 50% of Europe's fossil fuel derived CO2 emissions. South Africa is heavily dependent on coal consumption and demonstrating the capacity to capture the carbon emitted would be a significant development in terms of South Africa's commitment to meet their carbon dioxide target.

Professor Jon Gibbins, a member of SCCS, welcomed the growing South African participation in CCS research:

"Every country will have specific requirements for the CCS plants they deploy, but we all have a tremendous amount to gain by sharing insights and experience in this very important CO2 emission mitigation technology"

Gail Wilson, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland Co-ordinator said:

"The Scottish Government has regularly supported important and innovative projects overseas and this latest focus on renewable energy is very welcome. Scotland is a world leader with its domestic emission reduction targets, and today's announcement demonstrates how knowledge, research and funding from Scotland can make a difference in other countries also seeking to develop green and low carbon futures."

The Scottish Government has strengthened its support for developing countries on climate change over the last two years, focusing on renewable energy development and mitigation. This includes:

• The Maldives Partnership and the publication of the Scottish Government funded Marine Energy Study
• International Development funding of 137,638 pounds (over three years) has supported a solar energy project in rural communities in Malawi, run by Strathclyde University.

Commonwealth Games Fellowships funded from Scottish Government carbon levy on travel. The first six fellowships recently visited Scotland and met Mr Stevenson.

International partnerships with the Inter-American Development Bank, the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute and exploring further work on renewable energy with Malawi.

SCCS is the largest carbon storage grouping in the UK comprising in excess of 65 researchers and is unique in its connected strength across the full CCS chain, as well as in its biochar capability. Funding for this visit will come from the Scottish Government's Low Carbon Economy budget. Such a carbon capture programme would complement the South African CCS Centre's existing work on CO2 storage, supported in part by the UK.

Council Listens To Calls From Local Councillor And MSP As Under-Threat Youth Service Given Reprieve

An under-threat youth service which helps support troubled youngsters has been given a reprieve thanks to lobbying from young people and parents with the support of their MSP and councillors.

Youth workers based at Peterhead’s Barclay Park Pavilion and Peterhead Academy had been threatened with redundancy at the start of the Christmas holidays. Now, thanks to a local campaign, Aberdeenshire Council has responded to local MSP Stewart Stevenson and Peterhead South councillor Stephen Smith saying that the matter will be reviewed and the posts will remain in place until the end of the school year in summer 2012.

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson MSP said:

“I was approached by several parents of young people who had benefitted immensely from the service provided by the youth workers in Peterhead. They were full of praise for the efforts made by the youth workers and it is no exaggeration to say that the lives of the young people involved have been completely turned around by the support they have received from the service.

“It was therefore critical that the service did not fold in the week before Christmas due to financial issues. It would be unfair to the council to say this was a result of cuts because, as far as I am led to believe, the funding was not being cut from the education budget but merely moved to another heading.

“I’m pleased that Aberdeenshire Council has responded positively to calls from the community for a rethink. At the end of the day, a service like this actually save the public purse more money than it costs as a result of lives turned around and people diverted from other activities which may lead them to place a burden on the police and criminal justice service, which was a very strong point made by the young people themselves.”

Peterhead South & Cruden SNP councillor Stephen Smith added:

“I met with young people who use the service and their parents recently and it quickly became clear to me that there is a huge amount of work carried out by the Youth Workers whose positions are under threat which is greatly valued.

“I made the case very strongly to senior education officials at the council that there needed to be a rethink because the potential consequences of not having this kind of youth work going on in the community are likely to be more expensive.

“I’m therefore delighted by the assurance given to me by the Director of Education to extend the funding for this service at least until the 2012 summer holidays and to look at how we might have a more sustainable arrangement in future.”

Peterhead North & Rattray SNP councillor Fiona McRae commented:

“I know there was a lot of concern among parents who had seen the value of this service in helping their children and they feared what the loss of this service might do to future generations, so this is very welcome news.”