The Act Part 1 Aquaculture Control Section 18 - Emergency action notices
45.Section 18 applies where the Scottish Ministers are satisfied that a commercially damaging species is present on a fish farm or shellfish farm and that unless urgent action is taken, the species will spread quickly and have an immediate and significant adverse impact on other fish or shellfish or their commercial exploitability or the commercial or economic interests of fish or shellfish farmers. Where Ministers are so satisfied, section 18(2) provides an exemption to the notice process described in section 16(3), such that no notice or consultation to secure an agreement need be carried out. Instead, section 18(3) requires the Scottish Ministers to give an “emergency action notice” which notes their intention to take urgent action in respect of the commercially damaging species. Section 18(4) specifies the matters to be included in an emergency action notice, including the measures proposed to be taken to remove the species from the farm in question. Section 18(5) enables Ministers, no sooner than 14 days after the giving of the notice, to take the measures specified in the emergency action notice.