Loch Fyne caviar farm faces decision
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build a £4m caviar farm – Scotland’s first – at the head of Loch Fyne was due to face Argyll and Bute Council’s planning committee yesterday, Wednesday, after it was recommended for approval by officers.
The Fynest Caviar Co. applied to produce Osteria caviar from Russian and Siberian sturgeon in ‘a closed containment aquaculture facility’ in three buildings at Ardkinglas Sawmill, Cairndow.
According to planning documents, the caviar is expected to sell for £1,000 per kilo.
Cairndow Community Council raised ethical concerns about the fish being slaughtered when the roe is harvested and argued ‘there appears to be no or limited community benefit’. It asked if the space ‘could have more innovative uses’.
The Fynest Caviar Co. explained in planning documents that sturgeon was ‘more critically endangered than any group or species’, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and captive breeding programmes can prevent imminent extinction.
The sturgeon, aged seven to 10 years, would have their metabolism slowed in cold water and then be anaesthetised unconscious by clove oil. In less than a minute the fish would be stunned with a club or ‘priest’ and then bled. ‘Death is instantaneous,’ the company said.
‘All staff within the Loch Fyne facility that are directly involved in the slaughter of fish will follow processes recommended by the Humane Slaughter Association.’
Fraser Niven, director of Fynest Caviar Co., said before the meeting: ‘This decision to locate in Argyll is a positive reflection of the reputation of the area for providing Scotland and the wider markets with the highest quality food and drink products and in particular the skills of the local people in the aquaculture sector.’
Stephen O’Brien, one of the three shareholders, added: ‘The object is to become a leading high quality and profitable niche producer of caviar and sturgeon meat based on an ethical, sustainable and environmentally friendly operation in Scotland.’
The application received two objections and a 5,000-signature petition from the animal rights group PETA. However, the officer’s report noted: ‘While some of the names on the petition are from Argyll, the vast majority are from all over the world.
‘It is therefore recommended members do not hold a hearing prior to the application being determined. The fish farm would be located in an area identified for commercial development and would accord with all other relevant local development plan policies.’