The Act Part 1 Aquaculture Equipment Section 3 - Technical requirements for equipment used in fish farming
12.Section 3 makes provision for regulations to be made by the Scottish Ministers in relation to technical requirements for equipment to be used for or in connection with fish farming. The regulations will assist fish farmers to contain fish, prevent escapes, improve productivity, increase sustainability, and minimise the potential for any significant adverse impact on wild salmonids.
13.Section 3(1) enables the Scottish Ministers to make regulations which will prescribe equipment requirements to be complied with by fish farmers in their farming activities, and to provide for the enforcement of those requirements. Section 3(1)(b) includes training requirements in the matters to be regulated.
14.Section 3(2) specifies the purposes for which the regulations may be made, including for the prevention of escapes of fish.
15.Section 3(3) makes provision for the matters which may be included in the regulations, including arrangements for the appointment of inspectors to enforce the provisions of the regulations (section 3(3)(b)) and for criminal offences associated with non-compliance with the regulations (section 3(3)(g)). Section 3(7) provides that the sanctions that may be specified in the regulations may include the suspension or revocation of any authorisations required by fish farm operators to operate as such, for example, an authorisation under the Aquatic Animal Health (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/85).