Marine / Proposed salmon farm site remains ‘most appropriate option’ despite fishing concerns
A POTENTIAL compromise on the location of a proposed salmon farm off Vementry, which could have allayed objections from fishermen, appears to have been ruled out.
Developer Cooke Aquaculture said the suggested relocation is “not considered feasible” due to expansion of the farm into “key navigational areas” including the Aith Lifeboat transit route and the Muckle Roe lighthouse.
It also said in planning documents that alternative configurations were looked at to explore whether the spatial footprint of the moorings could be reduced.
But Cooke said modelling showed that most alternative arrangements did not achieve the required level of environmental performance.
Both the Shetland Fishermen’s Association (SFA) and Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation (SSMO) have objected to Cooke’s plans for a 10-pen salmon farm off Vementry.
It would feature pens sized at 120 metres in circumference, with a maximum biomass of 1,350 tonnes.
Cooke said the location of the proposed development was identified following “extensive environmental assessments, strict regulatory review, and careful consideration of surrounding operations”.
It added that situated in a “moderately exposed area, the site hosts ideal conditions for rearing strong and healthy salmon, supporting high standards of fish health, welfare, and environmental performance”.
But the SFA said that “while we recognise the important contribution aquaculture makes to Shetland’s economy, we must object on the grounds of the immediate and long term impact this development would have on established fishing activity and the sustainability of our members’ livelihoods”.
It said in its objection letter that the site lies “directly within an area actively used by local fishermen”, and that these grounds are not easily replaced; in the case of scallop grounds, “they are never replaced”.
The SFA added that the removal of “productive fishing grounds threatens the viability of fishing businesses and undermines the planning authority’s responsibility to safeguard existing marine industries”.
It said that local fishermen have suggested that adjustments to the proposed anchor layout could significantly reduce the impact on fishing activity.
The SFA also said Shetland’s inshore waters are “increasingly constrained by aquaculture sites, marine renewables, and environmental designations”.
“The addition of another fish farm will contribute to a cumulative reduction in available fishing space. This ongoing squeeze on the fleet’s operational area must be considered as part of the planning process and cannot be assessed in isolation,” it added.
In its Vementry objection, the SFA added: “It is our position that all planning applications for new salmon farm sites should be paused until the implications of the following issues are fully assessed as part of planning policy.”
The SSMO said it objected to the plans in their current form as it would “interfere with existing legitimate use of the area for scallop dredging”.
It said the issue “specifically relates to proposed anchors on the south side of the site which would encroach on, and therefore reduce access to, existing scallop dredge grounds”.
But it said the SSMO would withdraw its objection if a mutually acceptable compromise was made.
The SSMO also praised Cooke’s local managers on their “extensive and positive” consultation efforts which have been ongoing for a number of years, and said the company had taken an “enlightened approach” to salmon farm development by looking for sites of relatively modest size that do not remove seabed essential to local sustainable fisheries.
Sydney Johnson of the local scallop boat Golden Shore also lodged an objection to the plans based on the cumulative impact of aquaculture developments, although he said he did not do so lightly.
“Each new site that is approved removes yet another piece of seabed from active use, steadily eroding my ability, and the ability of other fishermen, to make a viable living,” he wrote.
Johnson added that it is “not uncommon for me to take 3,000-4,000 scallops per day from this area, generating around £2,000 per day”.
He fishes it around seven days per year, and “those days form an essential part of my annual income”.
“Losing access to this ground would have a direct and measurable impact on my livelihood,” Johnson wrote.
However, he proposed anchor adjustments which would minimise the impact on his fishing.
John Reid from Burra also raised concern due to the interaction with scallop grounds, but said if the site was removed he would withdraw his objection.
In a response to the fishing concerns, Cooke said it considered the idea of relocating the development further offshore towards the 80 metre depth contour within Swarbacks Minn.
The company said it assessed this option in detail, but said it is not feasible due to reasons including a required expansion of the moorings containment area, overlap with the RNLI transit route, intrusion into the “white sector light” of the Muckle Roe lighthouse and increased wave exposure.
It added that the current proposed location and layout remain the “most appropriate and lowest-impact option” within the area.
Cooke said on its website that the Vementry development “represents a continuation of our commitment to producing high-quality, sustainable food while working within Scotland’s internationally recognised environmental and regulatory standards”.
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.
