Section 1 - Fish farm management agreements and statements
3.Section 1 makes provision to amend the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007 (the “2007 Act”) with the insertion of provisions for fish farm management agreements and statements.
4.Section 1(2) inserts a new section (4A) into the 2007 Act, after section 4. This provision sets out the requirement for fish farm businesses to be party to farm management agreements or to maintain farm management statements. The amendment will enhance the investigative powers currently available to an inspector (within the meaning of section 12 of the 2007 Act) and provide inspectors with additional powers to take samples of fish and examine/take copies of any documents or records from any fish farm in Scotland. It will also enable the Scottish Ministers to modify the definition of the Code of Practice (within the meaning of inserted section 4A(5)) by order.
5.Section 1(3) replaces section 6(1) (enforcement notices) of the 2007 Act. This amendment will enable Scottish Ministers to serve enforcement notices on those who have failed or are failing to be party to fish farm management agreements or to maintain fish farm management statements and on those who have failed or are failing to ensure fish farms are managed and operated in accordance with such agreements or statements.
6.Section 1(4) amends section 43(3) of the 2007 Act so that an order under section 4A(6) of the 2007 Act is subject to the affirmative procedure in the Scottish Parliament.
