Wednesday 5 June
You are welcome to refer to the template letter below and use it, if you wish, to tailor your individual response.
Dawnfresh SEPA Application can be viewed here.
I/we the undersigned urge you to refuse the Dawnfresh application for CAR licence permit no. CAR/L/1178003 Ardentinny MCFF, Loch Long for the following reasons:
– Lack of seabed and full hydrodynamic survey and lack of data re the biodiversity of the benthic zone.
– Dawnfresh propose to use Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin and Cypermethrin as sea lice treatments which have been demonstrated to toxically affect non-target bird and aquatic species.
– Waste feed and faeces collect under the farm cages negatively affecting the benthic environment.
– The likelihood of toxic waste being carried by tides up the loch to local beaches.
– With climate change, there is an increased risk of more frequent tidal surges and flooding which would have potential catastrophic effect on the fish farm and its environment.
– The presence of sea lice risks affecting other fish stocks.
– The nearby Seal colony will be affected by the predation avoidance methods used by Dawnfresh such as sonar or, in extreme situations, shooting. The use of sonar devices may also negatively affect other mammals.
– The potential toxic waste in the loch and on the only (sandy) coastal beach in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park could pose a health risk and negatively affect locals and tourists alike.
– Other water users such as sailors, kayakers and canoeists, not to mention fishing boats, oil tankers and nuclear submarines may all be negatively impacted.
– Ardentinny has a large number of holiday homes, a busy caravan park and a vibrant outdoor centre whose clients may all feel the negative effects of the proposed farm with concomitant consequences for these and other local businesses.
– While Dawnfresh proposes 6 new jobs, this potential benefit should be measured against possible job losses as a result of the abovementioned damage experienced by other local businesses.
– Dawnfresh has a bad track record of benthic self-monitoring, e.g., their reports submitted to SEPA relating to Etive 4.