Environmental group AFFtheClyde, established by Ardentinny residents in 2019 to oppose a proposed fish farm at the Loch Long village, has become the newest member of the Coastal Communities Network (CCN).
The network, which is part of Fauna & Flora International, supports some 24 community-based groups throughout Scotland and are united by the desire for more action to be taken to protect and restore Scotland’s marine life.
Over the past year AFFtheClyde has been joined by a number of communities around Loch Long in opposing the semi-closed fish farm near Arrochar, Argyll which was proposed by the recently formed multi-national consortium Loch Long Salmon Company (LLSC). The proposal was finally refused by Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Board at a public hearing in October.
Alan Munro, Coastal Communities Network Coordinator said “Following their recent success in seeing off the Loch Long Salmon Company’s Beinn Reithe fish farm proposal, we are delighted to welcome AFFtheClyde to the CCN where they will join other local groups who share the same concerns about the future direction of Scotland’s salmon farming industry. We look forward to working with AFFtheClyde in our efforts to halt the expansion of the (aquaculture) industry, until it can be shown to be environmentally sustainable”.
David McDowall of AFFtheClyde said “In the face of a powerful public relations campaign by LLSC, many locals considered that their voices were not being heard, even though some 200+ opposing representations were submitted by the public to the National Park authority. Community Councils failed to consult their communities in a transparent and democratic way and our local and national politicians failed to listen to expert opinion on the unproven technology of semi-closed aquaculture. Our membership of CCN will enable us to share information and provide us with access to a knowledge base of similar groups around Scotland whose communities are being threatened by these massive developments.”
Recently LLSC announced they will be seeking planning permission for another semi-closed fish farm between Oban and Fort William at Loch Linnhe. The envisaged biomass is 8,000 tonnes (equivalent to 2 million – 4kg salmon), more than double that proposed for Loch Long.
David McDowall continued “Already some of the Loch Linnhe community has reached out to AFFtheClyde and are rightly very concerned about this development. LLSC continues to state that the technology used is proven and that some 85% of waste will be pumped ashore for further treatment and disposal. Our communities need factual examples from the developers as to where this exact technology has been used and where waste solids are being successfully collected, rather than simply being discharged into the surrounding marine environment. Until LLSC can unequivocally demonstrate that this technology is proven, the siting whether it be Loch Long or Loch Linnhe can only be considered as experimental and a major risk to our environment”.
Photo shows visit to proposed site of fish farm at Beinn Reithe, Loch Long, October, 2022.