WEST LOCH TARBERT AREA MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
1. Introduction The Tripartite Working Group (TWG) was established in June 1999 under the chairmanship of the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department, with representatives from the salmon farming industry (Scottish Quality Salmon) and the wild fisheries industry (Atlantic Salmon Trust, Scottish Anglers National Association, Association of Salmon Fishery Boards, Association of West Coast Fisheries Trusts). The TWG’s objective was to ‘promote and maintain the good health of both wild and farmed salmonids on the west coast of Scotland’. To this end, the TWG recommended in January 2000 that joint Area Management Agreements (AMAs) should be established at a local level between salmon farming companies and wild fishery interests. Before applying the AMA proposals to the whole of the west coast, pilot AMAs were to be established in suitable areas. West Loch Tarbert in Harris is one of these pilot areas. On 3 rd March 2000 representatives of Marine Harvest (MH), the Western Isles Fisheries Trust (WIFT) and North Harris Estate held a meeting to establish an AMA, and an Area Management Group to oversee the agreement. The following document is a draft of the points considered for agreement. 2. The West Loch Tarbert AMA and Area Management Group AMA Objective: MH, the WIFT and North Harris Estate aim to manage the watershed of West Loch Tarbert for the maximum mutual benefit of the health of both farmed and wild salmonids. Area covered by the AMA: All Crown Estate leases for finfish farming within the water body of West Loch Tarbert up to the mouth of the loch between Rubha Huisinis (NA 980 111) and Aird Nisabost (NG 045 976), and all freshwater catchments discharging into this area. Timescale of AMA: The agreement holds for one production cycle (2 years) but should be reviewed annually. Composition of the Area Management Group: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Mr Mark Bilsby (WIFT Biologist): Secretary MH Area Fish Health Manager MH WLT Farm Manager Mr Iain MacLeod (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) : Chairman Mr Jonathan Bulmer (NHE)
Meetings: Group to meet in full a minimum of three times per year - February (precoordinated lice treatment), June (post-coordinated lice treatment) and October. Other meetings may be convened at any time at the request of any members of the Group to address new developments of relevance to the AMA (e.g. escapes, cage relocation, disease outbreak, discharge consents etc.). Minutes and information: Minutes of each meeting to be taken by the Secretary. Draft minutes circulated to all members of Group, and then disseminated when and as agreed unanimously by the Group. Bi-annual reports on the progress of the AMA will be made to the TWG.
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3. Terms of the West Loch Tarbert AMA Synchronised production: MH agree to synchronise the input and final harvest of single year classes (as defined in the Joint Working Group Report on ISA, February 2000), ensuring a complete fallow of all sites for at least 4 weeks at the end of the production cycle. Zero ovigerous lice target: Through the use of newly consented medicines, MH will strive to achieve an average lice burden of zero ovigerous females on all sites, particularly during the period February-June. Average lice burden is defined as the enumeration and speciation of sea lice from 30 randomly sampled fish on one sampling occasion. At this stage it is accepted by the AMG that zero lice may not be achievable but MH agree to use their best endeavours to hit the target. In the event that the new consents are not granted the AMG agrees that MH cannot achieve the target of zero ovigerous lice. Lice monitoring will be carried out by MH according to the company’s standard protocol. Lice count data will be released to the Group, but will remain confidential within the Group unless MH agree otherwise. WIFT will have access to MH sites within the Management Area, for the purpose of counting sea lice, following 24 hours notice to the MH Farm Manager. WIFT lice count data for wild salmonids in West Loch Tarbert will also be made available to the Group. Market forces: In the event that market forces prevent MH from using specific consented medicines the group accepts that the zero ovigerous lice target may not be achievable. Guaranteed furunculosis vaccination: MH agree that all smolts stocked into their sites are vaccinated against furunculosis. The WIFT and NHE agree that wild fish introduced to the AMA catchment from other rivers are vaccinated against furunculosis. Notifiable diseases: In accordance with the Fish Health Regulations (1992), the WIFT and NHE agree that wild fish introduced to the AMA catchments from other rivers will only be taken from brood stock that have been tested and cleared for List I and List II diseases under the European Community Directive 91/67/EEC. The occurrence of any notifiable disease within any part of the AMA area should be reported to the Group on receipt of MH receiving confirmation of the disease. Farm escapes: MH agree to adhere to the recommendations of the Escapes Working Group, and to inform the AMG of escapes as soon as practically possible. MH will report any escape in excess of 25 fish, at one time, to the WIFT within 6 hours of the escape occurring. ISA Codes of Practice: MH agree to adhere to the Code of Practice proposed by the Joint Working Group Report on ISA (February 2000). Following the completion of one production cycle the Area Management Agreement will be reviewed by all members with the respect to the target of zero ovigerous females and the setting up of an incentive/penalty scheme for lice levels. Alterations to the AMA will only occur if all parties agree.
ANY OF THE ABOVE MAY BE OVER-RIDDEN BY DEMANDS OF LEGISLATION. IN THIS EVENT THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY REVIEWED BY THE AREA MANAGEMENT GROUP 4. Signatories Signed for and on the behalf of:
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