Fish farm gets go ahead in Loch Torridon

The Scottish Salmon Company has been given the go ahead from the Highland Council to build 14 cages at Sgeir Dughall in Loch Torridon. The farm had been opposed by the Torridon and Kinlochewe and Shieldaig community councils which claimed local wild trout and salmon could be infected by sea lice, spread from the influx of farmed fish into the waters. They claimed siting the farm was a contravention of the Loch Torridon aquaculture framework because Sgeir Dughall was a sensitive area but the move was defeated by seven votes to five.

"Looking across Upper Loch Torridon to Beinn alligan and Sgorr a'Chadail

Councillor Sinclair criticised the scientists’ response to the fish farm which secured planning consent for 10 years. “My big disappointment is in Marine Scotland Science,” said Councillor Sinclair, who noted the sea lice problems were highlighted after the second year of farmed fish production in Loch Shieldaig. “The idea of letting it run for 10 years, it is a bit like letting the genie out of the bottle. The communities are not against fish farms per se, they have been in the area for a long time and the jobs are welcomed. But what they have been saying is enough is enough.” Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little, The Aquaculturists, published and supported by the International Aquafeed Magazine from Perendale Publishers. To get your copy of 'PPLAPP' click here.