A new report on the innovation needs of the Scottish aquaculture sector was
launched today at the first meeting of the Industry Leadership Group (ILG) in
Inverness, attended by Fergus Ewing MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural
Economy and Connectivity.

The report – ‘Scottish aquaculture: a view towards 2030’ – follows a six-month
scoping study into the innovation needs of the sector, commissioned by the
Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) with support from Highlands and
Islands Enterprise, and conducted by independent consultants Imani
Development in partnership with SRSL.

The study used a combination of desk research, data from two key industry
events, and targeted interviews with industry leaders and regulators to inform
an innovation roadmap that sets out the needs of the sector according to
urgency and impact, and recommends a pathway of actions through to 2030.

Addressing these actions will, in turn, help achieve the recommendations of the
industry-led ‘Aquaculture Growth to 2030’ strategic plan that was published in
2016.

Commenting on the launch of the report, Stewart Graham, Managing Director of
Gael Force Group and co-Chair of the ILG, said: “I welcome this work which is
complementary and supportive of the industry strategy set out in ‘Aquaculture
Growth to 2030’. With a focus on innovation, it captures the current state of the
industry, supports the strategic priorities to 2030 and outlines how to achieve
them through innovative R&D. The resulting roadmap gives a clear and unified
picture of what’s needed and by when.”

Heather Jones, CEO of SAIC, added: “Several of the issues highlighted by the
report as being urgent and high-impact, such as disease, feed, licencing and
regulation, and spat availability closely mirror SAIC’s own priority innovation
areas which were identified by the industry during our initial engagement with
the sector. We look forward to collaborating with existing and new partners alike
on additional innovative R&D in these areas, and playing a core role in helping
the industry achieve its growth ambitions.”

The ILG, which will meet quarterly from February 2017, is co-chaired by Jim
Gallagher, Managing Director of Scottish Sea Farms, and Stewart Graham,
Managing Director of Gael Force Group.

The full ILG membership comprises:

From industry
Charlie Bullock, MD, Aquascot
Alban Denton, MD, Loch Duart
Jim Gallagher, MD, Scottish Sea Farms
Stewart Graham, MD, Gael Force Group
Stewart Hawthorn, Salmon Director, Dawnfresh
Heather Jones, CEO, Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre
Scott Landsburgh, CEO, Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation
David Morrice, Country Director, Cargill
Michael Tait, Chairman, Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers
James Withers, CEO, Scotland Food & Drink

You can download a copy of ‘Scottish aquaculture: a view towards 2030’ at
scottishaquaculture.com. Alternatively, for a printed copy, email
lorna@scottishaquaculture.com.