Scottish Anglers Condemn Marine Harvest Debris

Sea trout group urges company to clean up its act at abandoned site in special conservation area

By Eilidh Davies

An angling group is calling on the world’s biggest fish farming company to clean up its act and remove the debris that it left behind at a former fish farm in a Special Area of Conservation in Ardnamurchan.

But yesterday Marine Harvest said after closing the farm several years ago it had stored equipment on the shore base and that it was still gradually removing equipment off the site at Laudale Farm at Loch Sunart, near Strontian.

The Sea Trout Group (STG) said it believed the “careless behaviour” by Marine Harvest does not bode well for good stewardship of the coast and seas.

It made the comment as the Scottish Government continues a consultation on the country’s first Marine Bill.

STG member Ronnie Picken, who is also president of the Scottish Anglers’ National Association, said: “We feel that the fact Marine Harvest has left this mess, despite complaints from local people over the years, is a sad reflection of the complacent attitude salmon farmers have to the environment.

“Companies which are using our waters to grow their fish for the profit of their shareholders have a duty to look after the environment, not a right to use and misuse it. We call on local planning authorities and Scottish ministers to ensure that Marine Harvest and the other salmon farming companies operating here sharpen up their act and clean up their mess.”

Read the full story at The Press and Journal