Scottish caviar plan ‘cruel’ say activists
PLANS to produce caviar in Scotland have met with opposition from animal rights campaigners.
Fynest Caviar submitted a planning application to Argyll and Bute Council in December and hopes to begin work on its project beside Loch Fyne in spring, with Scottish produced caviar on the market by Christmas 2020.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has lodged no objections with Argyll and Bute Council, which has set a determination deadline for later this month.
However, more than 5,000 people have signed a petition organised by Peta urging councillors to abandon plans for the ‘cruel’ farm.
The farm will be a closed containment aquaculture facility beside Ardkinglas
sawmill at Cairndow, near the head of the loch.
One of the new company’s three shareholders, chartered accountant Fraser Niven, said the firm hoped to capitalise on the reputation of nearby producers Loch Fyne Oysters and the Scottish Salmon Company.
‘A significant element of the investment is to acquire a blended initial stock, from accredited sustainable sources,’ he said.
‘The stock will acclimatise over the first 12 months and a small number of the fish will be in a position to provide caviar after a further 12 months.
‘However, the key to the business is to hatch and rear fish.’
The plans include an onsite broodstock unit to allow the operators to produce their own juveniles, a nursery and an on-growing area. Female sturgeon can take up to 25 years to mature.