Salmon farmers warn against ‘catastrophic’ Snp-green coalition

A coalition deal between the SNP and Scottish Greens would be “catastrophic” for Scotland's salmon farming industry it has been claimed, as talks between the parties on a co-operation agreement entered a new phase.

Negotiations which began in June, are believed to have progressed to conversations between individual government ministers and Green MSPS to discuss policies.

However the SNP is coming underincreasingpressurefrom sectorsofscotland’sruraleconomy who claim that any agreementwouldbe“devastating”for businesses.

Dozensofruralorganisations, including gamekeepers and moorlandgroups,havealready written to Nicola Sturgeon claiminganagreementwiththe

Greenswould“tearapart”rural jobs, and now salmon farmers have warned that Green party policies would be ruinous for their industry.

The Greens have pledged to phase out open net pen salmonfarming,toughenconditions on licences to farm in coastal waters and stop any further growth of the sector until environmental and animal welfare concerns are discussed.

Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater said on Thursday that rural businesses needed to be realisticandcouldnotcontinue toruninawaythatdamagesthe planet–thoughsheadmittedto having never visited a salmon farm and did not know they were located on the west coast.

While it is not clear if the party’s aquaculture plans will be part of the negotiations with the SNP, the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation has said talk of a deal was concerningitsmembers,asgreenmanifesto plans “have the potential to prejudice the sector's future and thousands of jobs.”

The SSPO has also said the industry is a relatively low carbonformofproteinproduction and farmers are working hard to reduce their environmental impact.

Meanwhile Anne Anderson of Scottish Sea Farms, said in a BBC interview, that the Greens’ desire to shut open pen farms would have “a catastrophic effect on the Scottish salmon farming.” She added it would have a “devastating conclusion and impact on people.”

However Ms Slater said: “I don't want workers to worry. We want to put in place jobs guarantees, just transition plans and build up sustainable environmentally friendly industries.”