European Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki has extended her full support to Scotland’s aquaculture as she was very much impressed. She already said the growth of aquaculture – fish and shellfish farming – as a priority for the EU, a position shared by Ms Cunningham in Scotland. Aquaculture is a success story for Scotland, supporting over 6,000 jobs and producing 144,000 tonnes of product in 2008-09, worth an estimated £434 million.
Cunningham said that she had constructive dialogue with Commissioner Damanaki, who recognized Scotland’s key position within the EU as a leader in aquaculture – in terms of the quality of our farmed fish produce, innovative marketing and leading research. She informed that Scotland has developed a thriving aquaculture industry. Beyond salmon, Scotland’s most valuable food export, we are expanding production of mussels, trout and oysters.
Cunningham said that in Scotland they have developed a strategic and responsible approach to the management and planning of the fish farming industry. This expertise means we can make an important contribution to developing the industry across the EU and informing future EU policies. Aquaculture is a growing industry, helping to underpin sustainable economic growth in rural and coastal communities in the Highlands & Islands. In 2009 there were 1,043 fish and shellfish farms in Scotland.
