Independence and neutrality Clause Samples

Independence and neutrality. Building trust between stakeholders is a key goal for this work. This is why Ministers ask the SSAC, as an independent and neutral party, separate from government and regulators, to consider the issues of science in aquaculture consenting. In the interests of building trust in processes we will publish this scoping agreement, the final report, and any supplementary information annexes. The following elements should be considered within the scope and remit of the project: • All existing consenting processes: The project should limit itself to reporting on the aquaculture consenting process in Scotland, and should mainly focus on fish farming (though lessons learned may be applicable to other aquaculture types). The consents required for a fish farm, and associated regulators, are: o Planning Permission (Planning Authorities) o CAR Licence (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) o Marine Licence (Scottish Ministers, through MS-LOT) o Aquaculture Production Business authorisation (Fish Health Inspectorate, Marine Scotland Science) o Seabed Lease (Crown Estate Scotland) • Changes to the consenting frameworks in progress: We ask the SSAC to note that we are in the process of significant change to the management of the interactions between wild and farmed fish in Scotland, through the introduction of a new risk-based framework for managing the interaction between sea lice from marine fish farms and wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout. Information on the development of this framework will be provided as part of the background information pack. Given its importance to future consenting processes, SEPA’s use of science in developing a new sea lice risk-assessment framework is within scope of SSAC’s work. SEPA’s work to implement the framework will continue in parallel; a Ministerial commitment. • Whilst the SSAC might wish to consider how individual consenting decisions have been arrived at and communicated in conducting its work, the SSAC should not comment on or include in its report any information relating to individual licence or other decisions.