Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Cluster (SAIC): business and regulatory impact assessment 2026

Section 2: Engagement and information gathering

Engagement approach

Engagement to date has focused on developing the options appraisal and then informing the development of the policy proposal to establish the new SAIC as an independent entity, including its purpose, funding, scope, governance model and high-level operating principles.

Scottish Government officials have undertaken internal and wider public sector engagement across relevant policy areas, including aquaculture, innovation, economic development, and public finance to test the rationale for intervention and alignment with wider strategic objectives.

Officials have also engaged with key external stakeholders, including representatives from industry, academia and existing innovation bodies to explore the nature of market failures, the effectiveness of existing support mechanisms and the case for a more coordinated, sector led approach.

This engagement has confirmed the need for an independent coordination entity and shaped the high-level design of SAIC.

Internal SG engagement/ engagement with wider Public Sector

Internal SG engagement

Scottish Government officials have engaged with relevant policy teams across governments including:

• Crown Estate Sponsorship team.
• Aquaculture Programme
• Innovation
• Marine Economists

This engagement has ensured alignment with wider government priorities including:

• The National Strategy for Economic Transformation
• Scotland’s Innovation Strategy
• The Blue Economy vision

UK/ Devolved Administrations

Officials have engaged with other UK wide aquaculture partners, keeping them abreast of plans. However, the balance of UK aquaculture takes place in Scotland and engagement with other partners has been proportionate.

Wider Public Sector

Scottish officials have engaged with:

• Crown Estate Scotland
• Highlands and Islands enterprise
• And relevant public research bodies

CES emerged from this engagement as a key partner, and work has proceeded in collaborative partnership since their role as funder was agreed in principle.

This engagement has focused on avoiding duplication of functions, assessing the different options and how SAIC would complement existing enterprise and research support and clarifying respective roles in the innovation system.

Local authorities and regulatory bodies have not been directly engaged at this stage since the proposal does not impose new duties or compliance requirements on them.

Business / Third Sector engagement

Scottish Government officials have engaged with:

• Aquaculture industry representative bodies
• Academic partners
• SAMS
• MASTS

Engagement has been conducted through stakeholder updates. Stakeholder feedback has highlighted a preference of option b. to establish SAIC as an independent entity

Public consultation

No formal consultation has been undertaken since the proposal concerns institutional arrangements rather than regulatory or consumer-facing policy.

Stakeholder engagement was focused on targeted sector engagement.

Other stakeholders

Stakeholder engagement was focused on targeted sector engagement as mentioned in the previous section.