Green light for Shuna fish farms

A plan to expand two fish farms near Shuna has been approved by Argyll and Bute Council.

Marine Harvest plans to merge five local sites into four, closing its Ardmaddy Fish Farm, while only reducing their combined capacity from 9,600 tonnes of biomass to 9,500 tonnes.

In one application, Marine Harvest sought to modify 16 100m cages into 12 120m cages, and increase biomass to 2,500 tonnes, at Poll Na Gille Salmon Farm, east of Shuna Island.

It drew 19 objections, plus an objection from Argyll and District Salmon Fishery Board, and six letters of support. According to the planning officer’s report presented to councillors at last Thursday’s planning committee, supporters argued: ‘The company is dedicated to local employment, the training of employees, the use of local contractors where possible and the desire to integrate into the local environs economically and socially.’

The campaign group The Friends of Sound of Jura objected: ‘There is a strong correlation between fish farming and the sharp decline in wild salmon and sea trout populations on the west coast. Wild fish sampled close to fish farms have a higher lice burden than those at a greater distance.

‘Insufficient experience has been obtained of new mitigation measures being employed by fish farmers to be sure these will be effective.

‘Additional biomass in an area known to be frequented by wild salmonids and close to two breeding rivers is likely to pose significant risk. If it cannot be concluded the risk is insignificant then the precautionary principle should be adopted and permission should be refused, or at the very least be postponed until the current parliamentary inquiry reports.’

Marine biologist David Ainsley also raised concerns about the risk posed to cetaceans by Acoustic Deterrent Devices at the site, which he said ‘cause disturbance and displacement of cetaceans’.

However, councillors agreed with the planning officers’ recommendation to approve Marine Harvest’s plan: ‘Although [measures] will not eradicate impacts upon wild fish, they will mitigate impacts to a point which in the officers’ view, and that of most consultees, renders the application acceptable.’ Its impact, the report said, is ‘unlikely to be significant’.

In the second application, Marine Harvest planned to raise production at its Bagh Dail Nan Ceann Fish Farm, at Loch Shuna, Ardfern, by expanding it from 10 to 12 120m circumference cages, and increasing its capacity to 3,500 tonnes.

Twenty-four objections, plus an objection from Craignish Community Council and Argyll and District Salmon Fishery Board, were lodged alongside seven letters of support.

Craignish community councillors objected ‘to the creeping incremental increase in capacity posed by this application and the associated application (outwith the area but in the same water body) at Pol na Gille’.

Given a lack of understanding about the environmental impacts of salmon farming, they argued, ‘there should be a moratorium on any expansion until further research has been concluded’.

The report also summarised the views of supporters, who argued: ‘The development of the site will support local jobs.’

Councillors again agreed with the officers’ recommendation, approving the expanded fish farm.