The Salmon & Trout Association (Scotland) has accused Marine Scotland Science of ‘ignoring its own evidence'' with regards to a planning application by salmon farming company Wester Ross Fisheries Limited.
The company made the planning application to install 46 steel pen fish cages in Loch Kanaird in Wester Ross at its existing fish farm at Ardmair. According to S&TA(S), Marine Scotland Science, which provides scientific and technical advice on behalf of Scottish Government, has concluded that “strategies for dealing with sea lice are satisfactory as far as can reasonably be foreseen.”
However, S&TA(S) claims that it has compiled evidence from Marine Scotland Science’s own records covering the period 2009 to 2013 which shows that the Ardmair farm has been characterised by lice levels in excess of Code of Good Practice thresholds, along with serious concerns over the use and efficacy of available treatments.
Guy Linley-Adams, Solicitor to the S&TA Aquaculture Campaign, said, “For Marine Scotland Science to come out with such bland ‘identikit’ assurances, given what their own information shows, is unforgiveable.
“We are left to wonder whether they even looked at what they had in their own files before they responded. They need to look closer at the record of the Ardmair farm and rethink their response. Simply rubber-stamping fish farm applications without taking account of all the evidence in their own possession is unacceptable.”
