Scottish Government

The Shellfish Forum was established in 2009 following the launch of A Fresh Start - the renewed Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture. The Forum brings together the shellfish industry and its regulators for quarterly meetings to resolve issues raised by the industry.

The Forum is chaired by Walter Speirs of the Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers (ASSG). Membership of the Forum includes:

• Marine Scotland and other Scottish Government colleagues
• Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)
• Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)
• The Crown Estate
• Shellfish industry
• Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group
• Seafood Shetland
• Food Standards Agency Scotland (FSAS)
• Scottish Water
• Seafish
• Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE)
• COSLA

The remit of the group is:

• To make recommendations to the Scottish Government on strategic direction for the shellfish sector to shape the shellfish elements of the renewed strategic framework for Scottish aquaculture
• Resolve issues raised by growers, processing and marketing interests within the shellfish industry
• Present research priorities to the Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum (SARF)
• Put forward proposals for research to be funded by the Scottish Government's Contract Research Fund

Issues identified by the Forum include:

• Classification of shellfish growing waters
• Harmonisation of the Food Standards Agency Scotland and SEPA-led regulatory regimes
• Greater focus on influencing EU Legislation as it affects shellfish
• Threats posed by disease and invasive species
• Make recommendations on the strategic direction for the Scottish shellfish sector