Marine / New salmon farm proposed off Vementry
A NEW salmon farm is being proposed in the waters between Muckle Roe and Vementry.
Cooke Aquaculture is planning to install 12 x 120 metre salmon pens as part of the £5 million development.
It could create five new full-time jobs.
Two public meetings are taking place this week on the plans, with the first due to be held at the Muckle Roe Hall today (Tuesday) between 2pm and 4pm, and 6pm to 8pm.
There will also be an event at the Aith Hall on Wednesday during the same times.
People can also submit comments online.
Shetland Fishermen’s Association has encouraged any fishermen who may be affected by the proposals to attend the events.
The salmon farm is being proposed for water just off the north side of Vementry.
There would also be a feed barge moored to the south of the pen group.
The farm would be serviced on a daily basis from the existing shorebase in Aith.
Cooke Aquaculture said: “As a pioneer in the development of offshore fish farms in Orkney, we are seeking to utilise this experience to develop a new farm in a more exposed location in Shetland.
“The proposed site is a high energy environment which will have optimal conditions for rearing strong and healthy fish whilst minimising potential effects on the local environment.”
The company added that any new salmon farm would require an environmental impact assessment to be carried out.
A few years ago an online petition was created against plans from Grieg Seafood to create a salmon farm near the Muckle Ayre beach. Those plans ultimately never came to fruition.
The proposed Cooke salmon farm would instead be located away from Muckle Roe and just off the island of Vementry.
It comes as Scottish Sea Farms works on plans for a new large salmon farm near South Whiteness.
In that instance the company aims to consolidate some existing licences into a new farm.
Initial proposals are for nine 160m salmon pens and one 120m pen.
A planning application for Scottish Sea Farms’ development is expected to be submitted to the council next month.
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