Chamber and committees

We want to see as few as possible. We have the minimum thresholds and, as I said, we will keep them under review. Industry has to report the numbers—there is a mandatory requirement for it to do so, and the numbers are posted a week in arrears. As I highlighted in my previous response, the vast majority are already below our minimum thresholds. The work that we are taking forward through the sea lice framework will be critical. We really need that to be embedded before we consider whether it is appropriate to continue to lower the thresholds.

Jill Barber can talk through the process that is followed by the fish health inspectorate and its role.

That is what I am coming to, but it is important to outline our position in relation to the framework, because it sets the context in which progress has been made. SEPA has assumed responsibility for the authorisation of discharge of treatment residues from wellboats. That responsibility transferred from Marine Scotland to SEPA. Responsibility for other areas is in the process of being transferred to SEPA, so it will be looking at the cumulative impact of the different issues within our marine environment. So, there have been improvements in that regard. Officials might want to come in on some of the specifics.

On the science, the Scottish Science Advisory Council’s report highlights some of the intrinsic problems that exist and how different science can be used by different people. We need to consider those issues. Obviously, we have to consider the recommendations that we have received on how we communicate that, which will probably help us to find a way through. That is exactly why we asked the advisory council for its report.

A lot of that will also be helped by the work of the consenting task group and what it is trying to do to establish multilateral engagement at the start of the process, as well as all the other pieces of work that we have touched on this morning. SEPA is looking to introduce the new sea lice framework in order to look at the impacts on the marine environment holistically through its own framework. All those strands of work are important in addressing that point.

I am sorry, but do you mean the Government’s relationship with SEPA?

Yes, as much as it is possible to do that. As I said, we need to ensure that we have flexibility to deal with the challenges that we face. In my first response, I outlined the overall SEPA fin-fish framework and the different phases of work that are being taken forward by consolidating SEPA as the overall environmental regulator. That helps significantly in the process.

I do not know whether we have the figures for comparison with the industries in other countries. Perhaps we can provide them later.

That is set out in regulations—they need to be disposed of in a certain way. Jill Barber might be able to give a bit more information on that. It is probably important to mention how some of the figures are recorded. Some of the mortalities are not necessarily an indictment or reflective of the husbandry of those animals, as they include things such as sub-optimal ova.

I hand over to Jill Barber.

I do not have that information on the inspection rate to hand. I do not know whether it is information that officials have, but I will be happy to provide it to you and the committee.

On community involvement and engagement through that process, are you talking particularly about the—