July / August 2010 Update

ASSG Report, July and August 2010 - Walter Speirs

5/7. Meeting with Nicki Holmyard to discuss Conference

7/7. Meeting of Trossulus project group

16/7. Meeting with FSA, Norovirus
As last year, July is fairly quiet for meetings, time to catch up on all the office work.

3/8. Meeting with Sainsburys to discuss water quality issues

9/8. Meeting with LFO/SSMG, discussion about future activities

10/8. Two visits from SNH. First was to discuss visual impact information for the new guidance advice to be supplied to planners for use when considering applications for new farms, or expansion of existing ones. Very useful exercise, which included a tour of a mussel and an oyster farm. Second visit was to discuss Invasive Non Native Species, with respect to the Gigas oyster. It was really beneficial to have these visits on site, rather than in an office.

16/8. Meeting with John O’Brien to discuss issues around the Audit and Review process, plus various other planning related concerns. In the afternoon, Marine Strategy Forum meeting.

18/8. Trip to Ardtoe to visit Viking Aquaculture hatchery facilities. Very interesting, with relevance to Native and Gigas production, and discussion about mussel spat for future years if Trossulus spreads.

23/8. Meeting with Daniel McIntyre, Scotland Food and Drink, to discuss where shellfish fits in the strategy.

24/8. Meeting and site visits with Argyll and Bute Planning Department. Knowledge exchange, worthwhile day.

31/8. Meeting and site visit with Stephen Bell, recently appointed by Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation, to assist with Development and Planning issues. More knowledge exchange.