Finfish aquaculture: Advertised applications under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011

As Scotland’s principal environmental regulator, our purpose is to protect and improve Scotland’s environment in ways that, as far as possible, also contribute to improving health and well-being and achieving sustainable economic growth. Our Corporate Plan 2024-2027 sets our strategic ambition and priorities. Our Annual Operating Plans set out how we will implement our priorities every year.

In delivering these priorities we engage with those who have an interest in and/or are affected by our regulations and duties. One way we engage is through formal consultations. This is your opportunity to tell us what you think about our proposals. The feedback we receive helps us to understand what matters most to people and how we can deliver our duties efficiently and effectively.

After the consultation closes, we’ll consider the information we receive before publishing a digest of responses through the We asked, You said, We did section of our consultation website. This will close the consultation process by explaining how we have considered and, where appropriate, acted upon what we heard.

What SEPA regulates

• Discharges of organic matter, medicine residues, other chemicals and the interaction between sea lice from fish farms and wild Atlantic salmon.

What others regulate

• Fish Health Inspectorate - Fish escapes and farmed fish health
• Animal and Plant Health Agency and the relevant local authority - Fish welfare and disposal of farmed fish mortalities
• Marine Scotland Licensing - Moorings and navigation
• Relevant local authority - Visual amenity, noise and sea lice interaction with sea trout*
• Health & Safety Executive and the relevant local authority - Workforce safety

* From March 2025, we will take on regulation of the interactions between sea lice from fish farms and sea trout. In the meantime, sea lice and wild fish interactions will continue to be considered by local authorities during the determination of planning applications.