29 March, 2007

SEAFOOD Shetland's shellfish businesses have agreed to implement a Code of Practice (COP) that provides guidelines for their industry.

The COP covers a multitude of issues to guide shellfish growers to work in a sustainable and environmentally friendly fashion.

The document will be constantly updated to reflect developments within the industry and to fit in with changing regulations.

Seafood Shetland's chief executive Ruth Henderson said: "Co-operation is a key aspect of this plan.

"Shellfish farmers depend upon clean water and will endeavour to work with other users of the marine environment, public bodies and the wider community to protect and sustain this resource.

"At the same time they will be minimising visual impact on the landscape and maintaining clean, safe and orderly sites."

The document was drawn up with the help of Scottish Natural Heritage. It covers many areas including the location of farms, site access, navigational safety, stock handling, water quality, harvesting, transportation, equipment, staffing and respect for wildlife.

"The first of these changes will happen on 1 April this year when the works licence will be replaced by land based planning regulations under the Town and Country Planning (Marine Fish Farming) (Scotland) Order 2007," Ms Henderson said.