Assessing the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Cluster (SAIC): island communities impact assessment

Step One – Develop a clear understanding of your objectives:

What are the objectives of the policy, strategy or service?

The objective of this proposal is to establish the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Cluster as an independent entity to support innovation, productivity and resilience within Scotland’s aquaculture sector.

SAIC will:

• Provide voluntary innovation and collaboration opportunities
• Facilitate knowledge exchange and best practice
• Improve data capability and operational efficiency
• Strengthen sector-wide competitiveness and resilience

The type of the proposal is a decision of a strategic nature, non-regulatory and introduces no statutory duties, reporting requirements or compliance mechanisms.

Do you need to consult?

No formal public consultation is required.

This proposal establishes an enabling entity and does not introduce regulatory change, service withdrawal, funding reallocation from island communities, or differential access restrictions. It is voluntary and non-regulatory in nature.

Island considerations have been assessed through existing sector knowledge, economic data and prior stakeholder engagement in aquaculture policy development.

How are islands identified for the purpose of the policy, strategy or service?

Island communities are defined in line with the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, including the islands of Orkney, Shetland, the Outer Hebrides and other inhabited Scottish islands.

What are the intended impacts/outcomes and how do these potentially differ in the islands?

Intended outcomes:

• Increased innovation uptake
• Improved productivity
• Reduced operational and compliance risk
• Stronger business resilience

As aquaculture activity is concentrated in Highland and Island areas of Scotland, these areas stand to benefit more from aquaculture innovation when implemented into business practices. Significant research capacity is located elsewhere in Scotland and therefore actual research may be more evenly spread.

Is the policy, strategy or service new?

Currently, aquaculture innovation financing activity is carried out by the current Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre located within the University of Stirling. The new Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Cluster Ltd (new SAIC Ltd) will carry out broadly similar activities in broadly similar ways, although with a different organisational structure and some small amends in terms of operations.