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Membership Benefits
Membership of the ASSG offers numerous benefits to shellfish growers
and those in allied sectors:
- Representation:
-In Edinburgh, with Scottish Executive Ministers and officials (in
particular SEERAD), MSPs and their researchers and Parliamentary staff;
-In Aberdeen, with FSA Scotland and FRS Marine Laboratory;
-In London, with DEFRA, FSA, CEFAS and Westminster MPs;
-In Brussels, with the European Commission (DGs SANCO, FISH and
Research), ‘Scotland House’ representatives and MEPs;
- Close liaison with
relevant organisations such as SFIA
(Shellfish and Aquaculture Advisory Committees), SEPA, FIFG Management
Group, Scottish Coastal Forum, as
well as SNH and WWF Scotland (the ASSG has unique formalised
‘Concordats’ with both of
these organisations) and other environmental bodies, HIE/LECs and Local
Authorities (in particular The
Highland Council), and The Crown Estate;
- European
involvement at the highest level, with Chairman Doug
McLeod a Board Member and Past-President of the ‘European Mollusc
Producers Association’;
- Communication by way of
debate between the Management Committee
and members at the AGM (Spring), Annual Conference (Autumn) and on an
individual basis at other times,
plus mailshots on specific issues, plus a quarterly informative
Newsletter (‘The Grower’), edited
by Janet Brown;
- Dissemination of
information to leading journalists and
decision makers;
- Highly successful annual
International Conference, augmented in
recent years by Workshops on topical issues (‘Biotoxin Management’,
‘Sustainability’, ‘Innovation’);
- Assistance with
applications for Crown Estate Leases and
Several Fishery Orders;
- Negotiation with Crown
Estate on behalf of the sector over
seabed lease rentals;
- Promotional activities,
including participation at Exhibitions
and Food events;·Involvement in Training issues through
participation in LANTRA
Sector Skills Council, the UK body for developing vocational training,
where Doug McLeod is currently
Chairman of the ‘Aquaculture Industry Group’ and participates on the
Lantra Board; Doug
also Chairs the cross-sectoral ‘Scottish Aquaculture Training
Association’, is a member
of the ‘UHI Millenium Institute Foundation’ and is a Board Member of
AquaTT (Dublin-based
pan-European vocational training organisation);
- Support in R & D
projects through links to EU (CRAFT) and
UK research funds, as well as participating in CARD and the recently
created ‘Scottish Aquaculture
Research Forum’;
Chairman Doug McLeod
currently oversees the Association, with
assistance from members of the Management Committee (Roger Thwaites,
Gordon Goldsworthy, George
Hamilton and John Brewer).
We hope you will consider
taking out membership for 2005, the cost of
which is just £250 per full membership. Individual Student and
Academic memberships are available
at a cost of £50.
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