This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New appointment to aid sustainable aquaculture
11/10/2002
A new appointment designed to help improve the health of wild fish stocks and promote a sustainable aquaculture industry, was announced tdoay.
Dr Amanda Currie, an environmental biologist, has been appointed to the full-time post of National Development Officer.
She will work with the Tripartite Working Group (TWG) to address the problems common to fish farming, wild salmon and sea trout fisheries.
Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development Allan Wilson said:
"I want to see issues common to fish farming and wild salmon fisheries being discussed through the Tripartite Working Group process. Wild fisheries and the aquaculture industry are very important to Scotland's rural economy.
"The appointment of a full-time National Development Officer to the Tripartite Working Group will ensure that we build on the success already achieved.
"Dialogue between the two sectors has improved immeasurably through the development of area management agreements which help to improve the environment for both farmed and wild fish. We want to drive this process forward and tackle the challenges that still lie ahead."
The TWG process was set up three years ago and brings together in a working partnership the Executive, wild fishery interests, environmentalists and fish farming industry interests (salmon and trout) on the west coast and Western Isles.
The National Development Officer post is a three year appointment, from October 9, 2002. The post is largely being funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, with additional funding coming from the Crown Estate Commissioners. The Executive has undertaken the recruitment and will provide day-to-day line management, with guidance from the TWG.
Dr Amanda Currie lives on the Isle of Lismore off Oban. She has undertaken a number of project development roles in the public and voluntary sectors.