Explanatory Notes

Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2013

2013 asp 7

18 June 2013

The Act

Part 1 Aquaculture

Chapter 3 – Commercially Damaging Species
Orders relating to commercially damaging species
Section 11 - Specification of commercially damaging species

32.Section 11(1), as read with subsection (2), provides for the species which the Scottish Ministers may, by order, specify as a commercially damaging species for the purposes of Chapter 3. Section 11(1) defines a commercially damaging species as a species of fish or shellfish, plant, or any other species of animal. It enables Ministers to make an order in respect of such species where they consider the species, if not controlled, would be likely to have a significant adverse impact on the economic or commercial interest of a person who carries on a business of fish farming, and where the species itself of little or no commercial value. For example, the order-making power may be exercised in relation to Mytilus trossulus. This species of mussel, which is not commercially viable due to its thin shell and low meat yield, has displaced in some places the commercially viable farming of Mytilus edulis.