Kevin Keane
BBC Scotland News

Scotland's marine ecosystem faces "irrecoverable damage" from salmon farming if environmental concerns are not addressed, according to MSPs.

Holyrood's Environment Committee said fish mortality was at "unacceptable levels".

Image source, PA

A report concluded that there has been little progress in tackling environmental problems since 2002.

The Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation insisted it was committed to long-term sustainability.

Salmon is Scotland's single biggest food export - worth £600m - and is estimated to provide nearly 2,500 jobs with thousands more supported by the aquaculture sector in rural and coastal communities.

But it has faced continuing problems tackling parasitic sea lice which attach themselves to the skin of the fish and can be transferred to passing wild salmon.

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

Elaine Jamieson from Highlands and Islands Enterprise says her organisation always looks for sustainable growth and promotes environmental stewardship.

Ms Jamieson says tourism relies very heavily on the natural environment.

Aquaculture and tourism have both been able to grow over the years, she says.

SNP MSP John Mason points to evidence received during a video conference yesterday that Scotland does not have as high environmental standards in the salmon farming as other countries like Chile.

Heather Jones from the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre expresses surprise at this.

Convener Edward Mountain clarifies the point was specifically about Aquaculture Stewardship Council certification.

Ms Jones says the industry in Scotland users other certification schemes.

The UK retail market sets very high standards, she adds.

Image source, bbc

Grreen MSP John Finnie asks how important Scotland's environment is to the Scottish salmon market.

James Withers from Scotland Food & Drink, external says it is critically important.

Mr Withers says Scotland's food and drink growth is in a large part about education.

Anything that has a detrimental impact on that would be hugely damaging he says.

Image source, Getty Images

More than 30,500 people have signed a petition urging the Scottish government to routinely test effluent from salmon processing plants for diseases.

Campaigners claimed that some polluted waste water contained pathogens that could "threaten" wild salmon stocks.

The Scottish government said the risk of disease transfer from farmed salmon to their wild counterparts was "low".

An industry body said fish farms worked to "strict regulations" on marine biosecurity.

Currently neither the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) nor the Scottish government tests the waste water from salmon farms or processing plants for pathogens and diseases.

read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

The committee will now take evidence from:

• James Withers from Scotland Food & Drink, external
• Elaine Jamieson from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, external
• Heather Jones from the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre, external

.........as it continues it's inquiry into the environmental impact of salmon farming.

Labour MSP Colin Smyth asks about consideration of disabled people when upgrading train stations.

The Mobility and Access Committee's Hussein Patwa argues accessibility must be integral at the start of every project, not as an afterthought.

Remodelling and retrofitting is causing more anxiety to passengers because disabled people were not considered from the off, he explains.

Ms Fletcher adds that is it "crucially important" that locals are consulted.

And on that note, the committee convener concludes the session.

Trains in Britain missed scheduled stops at stations on average 160 times a day, the BBC has learned.

More than 52,500 services out of a planned six million had one or more "failure to stop" (FTS) events in the financial year up to 23 February.

Govia Thameslink (GTR) - which runs Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern - accounted for 16,000 of those.

A spokesman said skipping stops was a "last resort when a train running late would otherwise prolong disruption".

Image source, Network Rail

Tory MSP Jamie Greene raises stop skipping.

Robert Samson says it is up to the rail companies to deliver the timetable in its entirety.

When announcements are made prior to the train leaving the station, passengers can deal with that, he says.

It is when they are on the train and an announcement is made which leaves passengers angry, "and rightly so".

Image source, bbc

Click here to watch Mind the Gap: Are Scotland's Trains Fit for the 21st Century.

Moving to rail both Hussein Patwa and Sheila Fletcher from the Mobility and Access Committee highlight the difficulties bus replacement services pose for those with a disability.

Access to a replacement bus service and information dissemination must be improved, they say.

Image source, bbc

Ms Fletcher says the second security guard on a train is very good at helping those with a disability.

Ms Fletcher says she would hate to see this second guard on the train disappear.

There needs to be someone at the station to provide a ramp for wheelchair users.

Image source, Thinkstock

Campaigners are calling for action to create "better journeys" for Scotland's bus passengers.

A survey carried out for Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) suggested dissatisfaction with frequency and punctuality of services in their area.

It also reported concerns about safety, cleanliness and value for money.

The Scottish government said it was helping operators "keep fares at affordable levels" and assisting local councils to support services.

Read more here.

SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson asks about changes to the concessionary travel scheme.

Gavin Booth says he would "hate to see any change", particularly a rise in the lower age.

The Mobility and Acess Committee's Sheila Fletcher agrees, saying the current system is "excellent" for combating loneliness and isolation.

About 49% of concessionary travel holders travel by bus because of a lack of other options, explains Robert Samson.

Image source, bbc

Robert Samson from Transport Focus says the only contact someone will have with a bus company is with the driver.

Hussein Patwa from the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland says there are different levels of training for bus drivers across Scotland.

Drivers need to be cognisant of varying disabilities, including hidden disabilities he says.

SNP MSP Gail Ross turns the discussion to access.

How can we make it easier for disabled people to access services and the buses themselves, she asks.

Sheila Fletcher of the Mobility and Access Commission welcomes buses now having lower floors.

She says the biggest issue for disabled people is that they do not want to feel different from other passengers.

Bus users have to ask specifically for help and often the message is not passed on from the head office of companies down to the individual bus.

"We're moving forward but we're not really moving forward far enough or fast enough."