Green light for Scottish caviar farm

SCOTLAND’S first caviar farm has been given the go-ahead, despite opposition from animal rights activists.

Fynest Caviar will build its closed containment recirculation facility at Ardkinglas Sawmill in Cairndow, Loch Fyne, following a decision by Argyll and Bute council’s planning committee.

The farm, consisting of three buildings, will rear sturgeon up to 12kg and the hope is to have the first caviar on the market by Christmas 2020.

The proposal was opposed by Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) on the grounds that the intensive farming of sturgeon was ‘cruel’. But their objections have been overruled.

Fynest Caviar said:‘Our fish will mature at seven to 10 years old.At this time they will measure 27-40 inches in length and be in a weight range of 10-12 kilos.

‘When certain fish have been identified for processing they will be moved to a smaller diameter tank containing cold water.

‘This causes the metabolism of the fish to slow greatly. Clove oil will be introduced into the water in the tank to anesthetise the fish.’

The firm said that once in the dispatching room, fish will be placed on a processing table and be killed with a club or ‘priest’.They claim that death is instantaneous.

Argyll and Bute planning officer Sandra Davies said that in its application, Fynest Caviar ‘had provided a lot of supporting details in order to demonstrate the acceptability of the proposals’.