Salmon farm off Vementry which drew fishing objections is approved by SIC
A SALMON farming site off Vementry which drew objections from fishing representatives has been given the green light by Shetland Islands Council.
Developer Cooke Aquaculture is bringing the project forward, which will include 10 pens sized at 120 metres in circumference, with a maximum biomass of 1,350 tonnes.
Both the Shetland Fishermen’s Association (SFA) and Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation (SSMO) had publicly objected to Cooke’s Vementry plans.
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”.
Shetland Islands Council has now approved the planning application for the Vementry salmon farm site, with Cooke Scotland welcoming the decision today (Thursday).
It said the approval “follows a detailed assessment process and marks an important step in the company’s plans to support sustainable production of Scottish Atlantic salmon on Shetland”.
The company’s Shetland manager David Brown said that “careful consideration” had been given to the project and that the company was “excited to move forward” with it.
“The approval of this development reflects years of planning, environmental assessment and engagement with local stakeholders,” he added.
Cooke said it had “worked closely” with regulators, local communities, industry stakeholders and environmental specialists to ensure the proposal met the required standards.
It added it would continue to maintain an open dialogue as the project moves forward.
The new site comprises of ten 120m circumference pens, with a proposed maximum biomass of 1,350 tonnes – creating up to four full-time, year-round job positions to service the farm.
“Our Vementry site will not only increase the capacity to meet growing consumer demand for salmon, but will also provide new employment and training opportunities as well as investment in Shetland’s infrastructure and services, while supporting local suppliers and contractors,” Brown added.
Subject to operational planning conditions, development of the site is expected to commence in 2027.
The SFA had objected to the Vementry project on the grounds of the impact it would have on established fishing activity and the livelihoods of its members.
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”.
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”.
However, the SSMO also praised Cooke’s local managers on their “extensive and positive” consultation efforts, 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.
A potential compromise on the location of a proposed salmon farm off Vementry, which could have allayed objections from fishermen, was ruled out earlier in the planning process by Cooke.
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