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Skye island, in the north-west of Scotland. (Photo: Stock File)
Two Skye salmon farms given go-ahead despite environmental concerns
UNITED KINGDOM
Thursday, April 19, 2018, 23:50 (GMT + 9)
Highland Council authorised two salmon farms to be situated off the coast of Skye, amid fears the environmental impact on the beautiful natural zone could be “irreversible.”
Councillors on the North Planning Committee welcomed the economic boost for the area with seven new jobs created in sight of the “most beautiful view in the UK,” according to Chairwoman Maxine Smith.
The two sites on the north-east of the island are among the first to be approved since MSPs warned that the continued expansion of the industry could cause “irrecoverable damage” to the environment.
These farms belong to Organic Sea Harvest, which aims to produce fish that is organic in 24 circular cages 120 metres in size, The Press and Journal reported.
Meanwhile, the Skye Communities for Natural Heritage group expressed opposition to the methods rather than the farms themselves, concerned about sea lice, chemicals and waste.
However, Councillor Kirsteen Currie said: “What is happening in front us today is seven jobs, that is seven families that could be living in that area.”
For his part, Alex MacInnes, a director of Organic Sea Harvest, said it is the culmination of four year’s work, adding the company will operate “under very, very rigorous standards.”
“We will be farming under Soil Association UK 5 Organic farming standards and obviously limits us to chemical use and stocking density, and how we manage fish welfare,” he pointed out.
Also involved in the company is Councillor Alister Mackinnon, and Hugh Mackay Drever, who is a UK director of Norwegian salmon farming company Villa Seafood.
Apart from environmental issues, some locals fear the two farms proposed by Organic Sea Harvest Ltd will be sold to large Norwegian multinationals – something that often happens with smaller operations.
In this regard, MacInnes, stressed: “I and my colleagues have absolutely no intention of farming other than organically or have any intentions of selling the business. The vision is as it has always been: to hand the business over to the next generation.”
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