Newly protected seas threatened by fish farms

West coast communities feel manipulated by corporations and ignored by government. Following recent applications to develop salmon fish farms in Scotland’s newly created Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), community groups along the West coast of Scotland are joining forces to oppose what they consider a breach of common sense. These communities believe they should have a real say in the approval of future developments on their shores and be involved in the planning and monitoring of these if given approval. They are concerned that the government is acting in the interest of internationally-based corporations instead of in the interest of coastal communities and sea life. The 250 salmon farms that have been developed across Scotland’s iconic West Coast threaten the future of a world famous environment that attracts millions of visitors each year.

The Sea Change community group from Wester Ross has asked Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham “to confirm that marine protected areas have been designated to protect biodiversity and vulnerable species and are therefore inappropriate sites for new net-cage salmon fish farms or expansions to these”. New sites proposed at the very heart of the Summer Isles Archipelago and the Wester Ross MPA are thought to “impact the future socio-economic opportunities offered by a restored marine environment that our community has worked so hard for”.

The Community of Arran Seabed Trust is also appalled by SEPA’s intention to approve the expansion of the Lamlash Bay salmon fish-farm just a stone’s throw away from the first community-led No Take Zone in Scotland where lobster and scallops are thriving. Executive Director Andrew Binnie says: “This is short-sighted and must not be allowed to happen. We are asking the Cabinet Secretary to “call in” this application and reject it on environmental grounds as it contravenes Section 3 of the Marine (Scotland) Act. Scotland’s hard-won MPA network must not become an easy option for salmon fish farms.”.

In response to the Scottish Government’s announcement to increase aquaculture by 100% before 2030, biologist Dr James Merryweather, speaking for a community group from Skye, known as the Scottish Salmon Think-Tank, said: “Dissolved pollutants from over 250 open net-cage salmon farms in the West of Scotland are equivalent to nearly one and a half times Scotland’s sewage if it were all pumped into the sea untreated. SEPA considers that to be “allowable”. The natural environment and those who appreciate and stand up for it know otherwise.”.

Under SEPA’s inspections, net caged salmon fish farms in Scotland are regularly found not to comply with environmental standards and only 3 of these farms are Aquaculture Stewardship Council certified, unlike the 89 fish farms in Norway.

To address increasing problems with salmon farms, Norway currently promotes closed containment systems which have much less impact. These systems ensure organic and chemical waste is contained and can be reused or recycled. They avoid the escapes of sea-lice-infected or genetically-poor farmed salmon which affect our wild salmon stocks.

We believe this model could offer an exciting solution for Scotland and would safeguard the health of our naturally beautiful and biodiverse seas as well as being compatible with local sustainable livelihoods such as creeling or adventure and wildlife tourism, creating more jobs in the longer term.

As Sir David Attenborough recently said “We can destroy or we can cherish – the choice is ours.”.