Scotland will be “ahead of the game” compared to other fishfarming nations with the publication of a new industry code of practice on finfish aquaculture, Aquaculture Today 2005 has been told.

Ralph Baillie, from Schering-Plough, said the new code of practice will be published by October of this year.

He said: “This will improve the competitiveness of Scotland PLC.”

He told the audience of more than 160 delegates at the UK’s premier aquaculture conference that this will give the industry a competitive advantage. “Getting the code of practice out this year will mean that we will be ahead of the game.”

The code of practice covers issues such as fish welfare and has been the result of many meetings between the industry’s stakeholders – the fish farmers themselves, scientists, environmental groups and government.

Mr Baillie said the code working group would be looking to have as many fish farmers as possible endorse the code. The new code may obviate any call for government regulation to be imposed on the industry.

Mr Baillie said the working group had had many positive meetings with stakeholders in developing the code, which will chime with existing industry schemes for quality assurance.

The two day meeting, which finishes today, at the Edinburgh Marriott Hotel was organised by Fish Farmer magazine.

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