#AFFtheClyde volunteer Jann Garrett gave an update on our local group’s work to a packed public meeting in Rothesay last week. Dawnfresh Farming Ltd are proposing to develop a fish farm at Hawk’s Neb on the Isle of Bute, in addition to Ardentinny and the Cumbraes.
The meeting, called by ‘Buteiful Coasts’, an environmental group created to fight the island’s fish farm proposal, was organised to raise awareness locally on the impact of the development.
Theresa Nelson of Buteiful Coasts outlined the work done so far by the group and said that in addition to the three Dawnfresh farms, there were another two existing farms at Carradale and Ardyne that are looking to expand their operations along with a new ‘mega farm’ proposed at north east Arran.
Theresa outlined the sheer scale and impact of these industrial fish farms on the environment stating that some 51 Rothesay ferries would fit into the farm grid area and more than 70 if the underwater anchoring was included. She also explained that for every kilo of farmed fish produced, an unsustainable three kilos of wild fish feed is required. Theresa also mentioned that SEPA had made 24 unannounced fish farm visits last year and that this has been decreasing annually. If announced visits were added, then not every farm will have had an annual inspection.
Dawnfresh has claimed that a number of new job opportunities will be created at each of its new sites. The Bute group considers this very optimistic given the increased automation at the farms. In her address, Theresa also said that current total jobs in the sector in the Clyde Marine Region was 160. Tourism and angling jobs across Scotland account for some 3000 jobs with many of these at risk from the decimation of salmon and other stocks. She also outlined the environmental risks of marine aquaculture.
The presentation was followed by a lively question and answer session.
Below this report is the short presentation provided by Buteiful Coasts of the meeting. To find our more about the group, please visit the Buteiful Coasts website at www.buteifulcoasts.com.
A ‘Proposed Works to Listed Building’ notice has been posted by Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park at Ardentinny Church which was recently offered for sale and is now ‘Under Offer’. The notice pertains to the removal of ‘ecclesiastical fixtures prior to sale’.
The fixtures include the Communion Table; Canopy; Pulpit; Pews; and War Memorials. The application states that the fixtures will be removed to Strone Church and Dunoon Museum.
After the recent Panorama programme on the destructive effects of fish farms coupled with a lack of adherence to industry regulations, will public opinion force a re-think? The Scottish Government is taking note, according to Rob Edwards with Sepa planning unannounced inspections.
Anyone wishing to make a personal representation to SEPA with regard to the Car Licence application by Dawnfresh Farming to establish an industrial rainbow trout farm off Ardentinny can refer to local action group Aff The Clyde’s website https://afftheclyde.org for details of how to do so.
There you will find contact details, deadline date and a suggested template letter, which may be used to help tailor your response.
An Ardentinny Community Council meeting has been announced to discuss the proposed Dawnfresh Ardentinny Trout Farm which is currently at the Environmental Impact Assessment screening stage (EIA) with Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. An outline leaflet produced by Dawnfresh on the proposed trout farm has been posted on the village notice board.
According to the planning documents submitted to the National Park, the fish farm would be located on the outskirts of Ardentinny in Loch Long, south of the village and Ravenrock Lighthouse. The installation would consist of 10 – 38m diameter circular pens in a 5 x 2 configuration, placed in a 80m x 80m mooring matrix. The site would be serviced by a feed barge on the shore side holding at least 200T of feed. The location of the shore base in or around Ardentinny is yet to be decided.
The Ardentinny site is one of four proposed fish farms in the Clyde area. The other locations being Bute, Great Cumbrae and Little Cumbrae.
As part of the Ardentinny project, Dawnfresh proposes to service the site daily by boat from a shore base at Ardentinny and to employ a local workforce of six. The shore base may include office facilities, storage shed and access to the shore. Site boats will be located close to the shore base either at a pontoon or moorings.
Site of proposed fish farm (main Ardentinny road – from south)
The site will operate 7 days a week and fish stock will be delivered to the farm by wellboat. Stock will be grown on in the first year and will be harvested in the second year on an ongoing basis. Harvests will be undertaken by wellboat, initially using mobile harvesting equipment, at a yet to be determined nearby port.
A video survey has been undertaken beneath the proposed site and the results will be analysed and presented in the final planning application. An application has been submitted to Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to confirm that the proposed biomass is within the carrying capacity of the area.
Wildlife
As part of the EIA screening application, Dawnfresh has addressed “Interaction with predators”. The report mentions that “Marine fish farms can experience considerable losses to predators if a predator identifies the farm as a viable food source”. Tensioned square mesh (30mm) top nets will be used to prevent predation by birds. The application also mentions that “Seals are initially attracted to a farm to graze on fallen stock and then move on to attack livestock. As a result, an attack has the potential to impact many thousands of fish and cause enormous stress on the rest of the fish population”.
In order to mitigate this, a daily collection of mortalities along with seal blinds (fine mesh) is envisaged. The application continues.. “If highly tensioned nets and daily removal of mortalities proves to be ineffective in deterring seals and in the event of full enclosure predator nets being inappropriate for use at this site Dawnfresh will consider the use of Acoustic Deterrent Devices (ADDs)”. “It is accepted that it may not be possible to totally eliminate predation by seals. Should mitigation measures be insufficient to protect fish stocks, Dawnfresh will consider the humane dispatch of a rogue seal”.
Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
The application states that “Dawnfresh will undertake a full Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) in support on the proposed site. Photomontages will be prepared from key viewpoints which will be identified based on advice from our chosen landscape architect and further advised by SNH and the Planning Authority”.
Site of proposed fish farm (from north)
Community engagement
The company also states that it’s an active supporter of community engagement, in particular supporting beach cleans and providing staff and boats to assist in these operations as well as supporting community groups, organisations and events.
Construction of the proposed trout farm is estimated to take between two to three weeks.
Our local MSP and Ward Councillors were invited to comment on the proposal. Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations and MSP for Argyll and Bute, Mike Russell, considered that the key issues would be environmental pollution and escapes and what assurances are in place for these. He said “Given it is in the National Park, the guarantees would require to be cast iron in terms of technology for escapes and monitoring of environmental discharges.” Councillor Yvonne McNeilly said she would listen to the views expressed by all of her constituents, after community consultation.
The Community Council Meeting will take place in Ardentinny Village Hall on Monday 11 March at 7pm. All are welcome.
Ardentinny residents, and therefore residents of the The Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, will have received information on the Park’s upcoming election of new Board members. Candidates need not live within the Park but must be aged 21 or over and have the support of 10 people eligible to vote within the Ward they are standing.
If you are interested in standing as a candidate to become one of five locally-elected members, download a nomination pack from www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/elections or pick one up from Argyll and Bute Council, Customer Services, 22 Hill Street Dunoon from 10 May 2018. Completed nomination packs should be returned to the Park by 4 p.m. on 31 May 2018.
In the event that more than one candidate stands in your Ward an election by postal ballot will take place. Ballot papers should arrive on or around 14 June and should be returned by post by 4 p.m. 5 July 2018.
