Marine / NatureScot lodges objection to salmon farm plans
SCOTLAND’s natural heritage organisation has submitted an objection to plans for a large salmon farm in Yell Sound.
NatureScot said Scottish Sea Farms’ (SSF) Fish Holm development could affect internationally important natural heritage interests in the east mainland coast special protection area.
Because of its objection, if Shetland Islands Council intends to grant planning permission against this advice it must notify Scottish ministers.
A spokesperson for SSF said the company was unable to comment on a live planning application.
However, they added that SSF remains “committed to working closely with all relevant statutory bodies throughout the planning process, as appropriate”.
Fish Holm would feature up to 12 pens with a circumference of 160 metres in the waters between Mossbank and Lunna Ness.
The currently consented salmon farm at Fish Holm (1,910t) and Collafirth 3 (1,200t) would be consolidated into one larger development, with a proposed biomass of 6,000t.
A planning application for Fish Holm has drawn objections from a range of fishing interests, from organisations to individual fishermen themselves.
Concern has also been raised by groups such as WildFish Scotland and Animal Equity UK.
But support has been shown from some individuals and businesses, including those which work with the salmon farming sector.
However NatureScot – a statutory consultee – has objected to the plans over the possible impact to the East Mainland Coast, Shetland, Special Protection Area (SPA).
The development lies within the SPA, which is protected for its great northern diver (non-breeding), red-throated diver (breeding), and Slavonian grebe (non-breeding).
NatureScot said surveys indicate that the east side of Fish Holm is an “important foraging area” for red-throated divers.
Its planning response added: “Red-throated diver use in this area overlaps with west side of the development footprint and therefore there is a risk of disturbance and displacement of birds using this area.
“As a species with a high level of sensitivity to disturbance, it is likely that red-throated diver foraging between the island of Fish Holm and the development footprint will be disturbed and potentially displaced due to operational activities at the site.”
NatureScot believes it is unlikely that Shetland Islands Council will be able to conclude that there will be no adverse effect on the integrity of the site for disturbance and displacement of red-throated diver.
Concerns have also been raised about the possible impacts of other elements including nutrient enhancement and chemical treatments.
The natural heritage organisation also said the proposal is likely to have a “significant effect” on harbour seal and otters in the Yell Sound Coast Special Area of Conservation (SAC), as well on gannets in a number of SPAs.
However it says the integrity of these sites will “not be adversely affected by the proposal” given the mitigation measures proposed.
NatureScot advised that any and all permissions for polemounted top net systems, “irrespective of location or mesh sizes, should include strict conditions that ensure systematic monitoring and prompt notification of any concerning patterns of entrapments or entanglements”.
The SIC’s coastal zone manager Simon Pallant has now written to Scottish Sea Farms to advise that the company could engage with NatureScot to discuss its consultation response in more detail.
“This should help ascertain whether further information can be provided to remove their objection and change their opinion regarding the effect of this development on the integrity of the East Mainland Coast, Shetland SPA,” he said.
The salmon farm company was also advised to consider whether it intends to provide any further information in response to the other objections and representations.
Officers have also retrospectively ‘stopped the clock’ on the planning application to 10 April, which was the original date NatureScot intended to respond to the application by. The ‘clock’ will be restarted once more information is received.
Through the planning process the size of the pens have been reduced from 200 metres to 160 metres, with SSF saying this reflects concerns of local fishermen.
SSF said this change “still allows for optimal stocking density in terms of both fish welfare and deposition per unit area on the seabed” but results in a reduced mooring size of around one quarter.
In a planning statement the company said it has identified a development which “balances technical feasibility, food production potential and environmental considerations, minimising adverse impacts (including other users of the marine environment) and maximising benefits”.
It added: “An EIA [environmental impact assessment] has been carried out which demonstrates that the proposed development will not result in significant unacceptable adverse effects, whether individually or cumulatively on the environment.
“Where mitigation measures are required, these are described in the EIA report and can be secured by planning conditions where necessary.”
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:
- Removal of third-party ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
