Chamber and committees

Are you worried about the repeated no counts?

I am afraid that I do not really have much of a grasp of how it works from your answers, and I know that you are giving what information you can.

Can I move on briefly to the no counts? Again, looking at the data, and as you have described, there are various reasons for individuals giving no counts—as in not giving the data. Do you track the justifications for describing a no count? How do you go to somebody and ask whether it is true that those individuals have not been able to give the data because of weather conditions or withdrawal periods?

It is nice to see you giving evidence this morning, Mr Allan.

Last week, we heard evidence that the sea lice situation is still very serious. You have said that the sea lice situation has changed significantly. If you have the figures to hand, the committee would like to understand how many incidences there have been of sea lice levels exceeding the mandatory figure.

You did say, however, that the sea lice situation has changed significantly. What did you mean by that if the mandatory measures have not actually made a difference?

To be clear, it does not have to be gathered under statute and reported to the Scottish Government.

Does the salmon farming industry work with the universities and pay them to do that type of work? What kind of producer wants to have welfare issues and such mortality rates? The situation is affecting profits, and I presume that it also affects worker welfare and coastal communities, because why would anyone want to see discarded fish or lorries leaving fish farms with dead fish? Does the industry work with universities to try to establish—

To develop that, I asked whether there is scientific consensus on why mortality rates are increasing. Professor Martin talked about the situation with micro jellyfish and, obviously, the waters are warming, but nobody has mentioned the increase in the number of salmon being produced and whether that is having an impact, or the use of technology. Perhaps the risk is greater using the technology, even though some people have said that it is helping. You are the scientists. Where is the scientific consensus about tackling mortality rates?

Why can we not get those research licence sites?

Okay, so if this committee asked RSPCA Assurance to come in and given evidence, it would be able to disclose that information.

My question is for Professor Martin. If an animal that is destined for the food chain experiences stress, consuming its meat not a pleasurable experience. In this industry, at what point is a fish discarded if it has experienced poor health? You are saying that you have not noticed severe welfare issues to do with sea lice, but we know that there must be a threshold. What happens if, for example, a fish has been through all these processes and perhaps does not eat? Does it still go into the food chain?