Portfolio questions feature justice ministers and law officers, followed by their colleagues in culture, tourism and external affairs.

Early kick off today at 1.30pm!

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At 2.10pm MSPs will vote on the Stage 3 amendments to the Social Security Bill, before the final debate and eventually voting to pass it at the later decision time of 7.10pm.

Green MSP John Finnie asks: "What's the obsession with growth?"

"I will confess to be a signed up obsessive of growth," James Withers of Scotland Food & Drink.

When does that stop, asks Mr Finnie.

Mr Withers says it stops if there is environmental damage or it is causing undue pressure on communities.

Demand is growing and there is an opportunity for Scotland to tap into that, but this will only be possible with environmental protections too, he explains.

Elaine Jamieson of HIE adds that growth is more the economic growth, but also broader improvements for rural areas.

Mr Finnie points out that the wages of the workers in the industry should also be growing.

The evidence session draws to a close.

SNP MSP Gail Ross says access to housing in small communities, where the fish farms are, is an issue.

Elaine Jamieson of HIE agrees, adding it is more challenging in some areas of the Highlands and islands.

Infrastructure is key, she adds.

People expect to be able to access the internet and use mobile phones, which must be considered during discussions on attracting people to work in remote and rural places.

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James Withers from Scotland Food & Drink says the relationship between the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the industry is "suboptimal".

Mr Withers says the agency should not just be a policeman of the industry but be seen more as a partner.

SNP MSP John Mason seeks views from the panel on sea lice controls.

Elaine Jamieson from HIE says businesses across the supply chain are deploying a range of strategies to tackle the problem.

Mr Mason says Scotland's approach seems quite laissez-faire, while in Norway they have taken on the issue more proactively.

Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre expert Heather Jones says the industry has improved by changing sampling techniques and intervening earlier.

She adds that sea lice are only responsible for around 1% of the decline in wild salmon stocks.

Tory MSP Donald Cameron states the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee's report concluded Scottish aquaculture is not held to the highest environmental standards yet.

He asserts that the committee's concern was that expansion without meeting the highest standards would cause a problem.

James Withers of Scotland Food & Drink agrees that he only wants to see growth as long as it meets environmental standards.

This will also help boost sales, he adds.

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James Withers from Scotland Food & Drink says the one thing we know for certain is demand for Scottish salmon is increasing.

He says today one million meals including salmon will be eaten in the UK!

Image source, Getty images

The Scottish government tried - and failed - to avoid a US import ban on salmon from fish farms that shoot seals, it has emerged.

New US rules will ban imports of fish from farms which kill marine mammals, including seals.

Emails have emerged showing officials attempted to seek an exemption for Scottish fish farms.

Government figures show salmon farms, which are licensed to kill seals, have shot more than 800 since 2011.

Fish farms are licensed to kill the animals to prevent them from attacking and eating salmon in the farm cages.

The US adopted new rules last year, however, forcing exporting nations into meeting the US standards on marine conservation.

Read more here.

SNP MSP Gail Ross asks about breaking into the US market while Scotland is still shooting seals.

Heather Jones says changes to US regulations is something fish farmers around the world will need to consider.

She argues that there needs to be some management of salmon farms to protect them from predators like seals.

Mr Jones points to research about the use of noise signals to deter seals from attacking salmon stocks, which could be introduced as an alternative.

Image source, bbbc

SNP MSP Gail Ross says Scotland has a lot of coastline not being used currently for fish farms.

Ms Ross says at the moment everything is concentrated in the west.

Heather Jones from the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre says there is a clear reason there is no fish farming on the east coast.

Ms Jones says there would be a risk if you changed the balance.

The west coast is sheltered she says, which is why the fish farms are located there.

Green MSP John Finnie presses witnesses about the role of planning and community development plans.

Heather Jones of the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre agrees the essence of local democracy is that decisions are taken as close to communities as possible.

Pointing to a 2009 outbreak of disease in Shetland salmon farms, she notes fewer sites are in use since then but productivity levels have remained stable.

The industry becomes self-regulating because having too many farms increases the likelihood of outbreaks, Mr Jones argues.

Last year a Canadian fish processing plant was under scrutiny after footage was released showing bloody effluent being discharged into British Columbia's waters.

The "very graphic" images have raised concerns the wastewater could spread disease to the province's Pacific wild salmon population.

A constant stream of billowing bright red liquid is seen rippling and mixing into the otherwise clear waters.

"I couldn't believe what I was seeing," says photographer Tavish Campbell who filmed the footage during underwater dives between Vancouver Island and the mainland.

"I was grossed out at the same time I was feeling mad," he says. "I was just in shock."

The effluent flowed into waters around BC's Discovery Islands where wild Fraser River sockeye salmon migrate each year .

The red water samples collected later tested positive for pathogens potentially harmful to fish: PRV and Piscirickettsia salmonis bacteria.

• How Scottish salmon conquered the world
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Tory MSP Peter Chapman wonders what drives standards in Scotland.

James Withers from Scotland Food & Drink backs Ms Jones' point that the consumer demands, funneled through retailers, ensure standards "go well beyond the legal minimum".

SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson wonders if the environmental impact of fish farming needs to be managed more intensively as the sector grows.

Mr Withers agrees growth must be carefully managed because Scottish waters are a key asset.

He speaks positively about the development of a relationship between industry and environmental agencies, particularly over the last 18 months.