In 2009, the aquaculture sector identified the potential for a 5 year programme of sustainable growth in salmon production, equating to a possible ex farm value of £152 million and a potential of 400 new jobs.
Following a Planning Summit in August of the same year, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth (John Swinney MSP) then set up the Aquaculture Planning Taskforce and asked them to prepare a document setting out ways in which the aquaculture planning service could be improved.
The Aquaculture Planning Taskforce, which is chaired by Keith Bray of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, comprises representatives from:
On 9 March 2010, Ministers published Delivering Planning Reform for Aquaculture, prepared for them by the Task Force. It sets out both high level objectives and specific actions. The implementation of the specific actions is overseen by the Improved Systems for Licensing Working Group (ISLAD).
Delivering Planning Reform for Aquaculture 2 was published in March 2011 and commits stakeholders to a series of further actions to improve the delivery of aquaculture development.