§ Mr. MaxtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are in place for formal consultation when marine fish farms, which were established before the formal consultation procedures were introduced in 1989, apply to the Crown Estate for the renewal of their sea bed lease.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonEach lease will be subject to individual review by the Crown Estate as and when it falls due for renewal. The Crown Estate will undertake any consultations it considers necessary in the light of the circumstances at each review.
§ Mr. MaxtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the Crown Estate's very sensitive areas in Scottish waters and the number of fish farm leases allocated in each;
(2) how many sea bed leases for (a) salmon farms and (b) shellfish farms are located in areas designated as very sensitive areas by the Crown Estate.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe table shows the number of sea bed leases allocated to salmon and shellfish farms in the very sensitive areas defined and identified by the Crown Estate:
204W
Very sensitive areas on the mainland coast Salmon farms Shellfish farms 1. Loch Laxford/Loch a'Chadh-Fi Sutherland 3 3 2. Loch Glendhu/Loch Glencoul Sutherland 1 1 3. Loch Broom/Loch Kanaird Ross-shire 2 1 4. Inner Little Loch Broom Ross-shire 1 1 5. Inner Loch Ewe/Loch Thurnaig Ross-shire 3 4 6. Inner Loch Gairloch Ross-shire 0 3 7. Inner Loch Torridon/Loch Shieldaig Ross-shire 3 4 8. Loch Carron Ross-shire 1 4 9. Loch na Cairidh/Caolas Scalpay Skye 1 2 10. Loch Brittle/Loch Scavaig Skye 0 0 11. Loch na Dal Skye 0 1 12. Loch Alsh/Loch Duich Lochaber 3 7 13. Inner Loch Hourn Lochaber 1 1 14. Inner Loch Nevis Lochaber 0 0 15. Loch nan Uamb Lochaber 0 0 16. Inner Loch Sunart Lochaber 6 7 17. Inner/Outer Loch Leven Lochaber 2 3 18. Tobermory Bay, Mull Argyll 1 1
Very sensitive areas on the mainland coast Salmon farms Shellfish farms 19. East Lismore Argyll 1 0 20. Inner Loch Creran Argyll 0 0 21. Inner Loch Etice Argyll 1 6 22. Sound of Kerrera/Loch Feochan Argyll 1 5 23. Loch Melfort/Shuna Sound Argyll 2 2 24. Loch Craignish Argyll 1 2 25. Loch Sween Argyll 2 2
§ Mr. MaxtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sea bed leases for marine fish farms are now in force in Scotland, for(a) finfish and (b) shellfish; and how many of each were established before the formal consultation procedures were introduced in 1986.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonI understand from the Crown Estate that there are currently 308 sea bed leases for finfish farming and 392 for shellfish farming off the coast of Scotland. Of these 158 finfish and 112 shellfish leases were granted before October 1986.
§ Mr. MaxtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide details of extant sea bed leases for marine salmon farms in Scotland, including(a) map reference, (b) area in hectares, (c) date of lease agreements, (d) date of expiry of lease, (e) production limits and when imposed or revised and (f) whether each application was subjected to (i) the formal consultation procedure, (ii) statutory environmental assessment and (iii) consideration by the advisory committee.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonI understand from the Crown Estate that the information requested at points(a), (b), (c) and (d) is not available in the form requested except at disproportionate cost to public funds. Lists of leases giving basic information are, however, made available by the Crown Estate on request. I am also informed that Crown Estate leases granted under the formal consultation procedures contain conditions specifying the equipment which may be installed; the consequential production limits are not separately listed.
All new site applications submitted to the Crown Estate have been subject to the formal consultation procedures since October 1986, and to the provisions of the Environmental Assessment (Salmon Farming in Marine Waters) Regulations 1988 which came into effect on 15 July 1988. One application has met the criteria for which such an assessment is required.
One case has been referred to the advisory committee for its consideration.