The AFFtheClyde environmental group was created to campaign against the proposed trout farm at Ardentinny, Loch Long, Argyll and three other proposed Firth of Clyde sites at Great Cumbrae, Little Cumbrae and Isle of Bute.
Dawnfresh Seafoods Ltd recently announced a £16 million plan to double their Scottish Trout production, however Rainbow Trout are not native to Scotland (they are larger than our native fish and when they escape their cages predate on the smaller fish). This proposed expansion into the Firth of Clyde would be at huge cost to the environment, the existing marine mammal population and human wellbeing and enjoyment of the beautiful coastlines of the West Coast of Scotland adversely affecting Tourism.
Caged farming on land or water is innately cruel and severely damaging to our environment and the natural habitat of other species. Overcrowding leads to stress, disease and high mortality. Chemicals ineffectively used to treat disease and parasites such as sea lice, (which also transfer to wild fish populations) along with the large amounts of waste material (faeces) pollute the waters, destroy the seabed and biodiversity, wash up along the shore lines and beaches and give rise to health risks to humans and other animals.
The intensely populated cages would attract interest from predators such as seals and birds who can became entangled and die in nets and if deemed to be a persistent threat they are shot. An existing seal colony, established over many years and thriving at the proposed site in Loch Long, Ardentinny would be at significant risk. The Firth of Clyde is one of the last thriving ecosystems for migratory salmonids in the west of Scotland, however Sir David Attenborough has recently accused fish farms of ‘threatening the very survival’ of wild salmon which is already in decline like everywhere else.
The three proposed sites (Isle of Bute, Great and Little Cumbrae) at such a narrow point of the Firth means all fish coming from the Atlantic on their way to the river Leven and Loch Lomond are going to pick up sea lice. The Firth of Clyde has seen an increase in populations of porpoises, seals and even pods of dolphins and orcas at times seen far up into the Firth this would be thwarted by use of sonic deterrents at the above proposed sites to protect their stock.
Please support this group to oppose such plans, share information and support others.
PETITION
Please sign and share the online petition to protect our environment for future generations both human and non-human to enjoy safely. https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/against-fish-farming-aff-the-firth-of-clyde
FACEBOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
Got something to say? Join our Facebook Discussion Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/AffTheClyde/
FACEBOOK PAGE
Like and share at https://www.facebook.com/AFFtheClyde/
TWITTER
Please follow us on Twitter at @AFFtheClyde
INSTAGRAM
@AFFtheClyde
EMAIL
You can contact us by email at AFFtheClyde@gmail.com
WEB
Our website is https://afftheclyde.org