PARTNER PROFILE
Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers
The Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers (ASSG) is a trade association for producers of mussels, scallops and oysters in Scotland. Founded in the 1970’s, and formalized into a limited company in the 1980’s, the ASSG ensures that Scottish shellfish interests are represented to Scottish and UK governments, the European Commission, political representatives (MSPs, MPs, MEPs), to national and international committees, to research, development and regulatory agencies, to NGOs and the media. Major sectoral concerns range from management of algal toxin testing and water quality, issues surrounding shellfish hygiene and consumer safety, through to integrated coastal zone management, vocational training and R & D.
Long line mussel farm on Loch Etive.
The ASSG supports sustainable, environmentally-conscious shellfish aquaculture. The ASSG has signed concordats with World Wildlife Fund – Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage, and has developed a Code of Best Practice for shellfish aquaculture. Members are kept in touch via mailshots and a quarterly newsletter, and meet together at the Spring AGM and Autumn Conference – the latter a progressively high profile two-day event that attracts increasing international interest and participation.
Douglas McLeod, Chairman
Location: Isle of Skye
Cultivates: Oysters
Doug McLeod has a background in resource economics, an expertise which has been applied in both his original professional incarnation in the international oil industry and now in his second career in the aquaculture sector.
As well as operating a small scale oyster cultivation operation in northwest Scotland, he is Chairman of the national representative trade association, the ‘Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers’, a role he has carried out for over 15 years, and of the trans-sectoral ‘Scottish Aquaculture Training Association’.