Chamber and committees

But that was not the most recent week reported in the letter.

There is also a commitment to undertake a comprehensive review of the code of good practice. Could someone give us more information on that review?

I am keen to ask about wrasse. The fish health inspectorate told the committee that its primary concern was that the mortality of cleaner fish is higher than it would like. The committee is also aware of concerns regarding the sustainability of wild wrasse fisheries. How are you responding to those concerns and what action is the industry taking to improve the welfare of those fish?

There must be concerns about sustainability if the industry is trying to move to fish that are not wild caught.

But in respect of those that are being eaten by seals and other aquatic life, that is just natural, right? They are not being farmed for human purposes.

I have just one final question. Throughout this evidence session, we have had disagreements on statistics, yet we have also heard that the data being published on mortality and fish welfare is robust. Can that be the case if one set of data that the committee has received this week on mortality from the fish health inspectorate is now being challenged by yourselves? Is that robust data?

On that week, it did.

It is not a concern now.

So far today, we have heard that the removal that was covered in the media and in the video was “routine”, “typical” and “not exceptional”. If that number of fish being removed in the morning is so unexceptional that it is not worth mentioning after lunch time, is this an industry that can be described as sustainable and that puts priority on the welfare of the animals?

I am glad to hear Tavish Scott mention the questions that were posed on site; I certainly asked quite a few questions about mortality. However, as I said, the removal that happened that morning was not mentioned. I am keen to understand how many dead fish would be a cause for concern. At what point is an investigation merited or are further checks made into how the salmon died?