Monday, January 31, 2011

Laird calls on EC to protect salmon

Complaint says governments should be prosecuted for failing to prevent harm to wild species.

The European Commission (EC) should prosecute the Scottish and UK governments for failing to protect wild salmon from fish farming in Scotland's west coast rivers, according to a Highland laird. An 80-page dossier submitted on behalf of the Rhidorroch Estate at Ullapool in Wester Ross claims the UK has failed to designate an appropriate number of rivers as Special Areas for Conservation (SAC) to preserve wild Atlantic stocks under the EC habitats directive. The EC environment directorate will decide whether legal action is merited.

The complaint coincides with figures from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), which last week revealed a big increase in the use of pesticides in Scottish fish farming. The aquaculture industry's critics have long argued that it threatens the survival of wild salmon stocks. The estate details perceived threats to two existing SACs for Atlantic salmon, and alleged failure of the Scottish Government to protect the wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout of the west coast and Western Isles.

Representing Ullapool River owners Ewen and Jenny Scobie, Guy Linley-Adams, solicitor to the Salmon and Trout Association’s aquaculture campaign, said: “The failure of the Scottish Government to get to grips with the industry to ensure it does not damage wild species is nothing short of a disgrace. Read more...

This blog is written by Martin Little The Aquaculturists, published and supported by the International Aquafeed Magazine from Perendale Publishers.

No comments:

Post a Comment