MSPs visit salmon farm as part of inquiry
A GROUP of MSPs from the Rural Economy and Connectivity committee visited salmon farming operations on the west coast at the end of April, as part of the ongoing inquiry into the industry.
The five politicians also met anglers during the day-long tour.
Committee convenor Edward Mountain, Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands, was joined by John Mason (SNP, Glasgow Shettleston), Peter Chapman (Con, North East Scotland), Richard Lyle (SNP, Uddingston and Bellshill) and Jamie Greene (Con,West Scotland).
The committee’s deputy convenor, Gail Ross (SNP, Caithness, Sutherland and Ross), toured a Marine Harvest site in a separate visit last month.
The visit came two days before the whole committee met to hear from producers.
The MSPs were shown around Marine Harvest’s Gorsten site in Loch Linnhe.They learnt how the fish are fed and how nets are cleaned, as well as discussing seal deterrent measures.
Before that, they had seen Marine Harvest’s Lochailort recirculation hatchery.
Earlier in the day, the MSPs were taken to the River Lochy, where they met local fishery stakeholders, including ghillies, local club anglers and local fishery biologists.
They then heard about the ground breaking work of Drimsallie hatchery in Lochaber, where a project is underway to replenish Highland rivers with wild stocks.
Marine Harvest’s business support manager Steve Bracken said:‘We were very pleased they had taken the time to come and visit, not just the Lochy Drimsallie hatchery, but Lochailort recirculation hatchery and Gorsten sea farm. I think they would have had a good overview of the relationship between wild fisheries in the Lochaber area and ourselves.’‘
REC report: Page 16