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SCOTLAND's wild fish interests have said they intend to make a formal complaint to the European Commission following what they describe as "yet another major escape" of farmed salmon.
Following a succession of salmon farm escapes in the Western Isles, the Association of Salmon Fishery Boards and the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland have said they have decided that “enough is enough”.
According to the organisations, the latest escape occurred at the end of last week at the Vuia Mor farm, operated by Fjord Seafood in West Loch Roag off the west coast of Lewis and close to the important Langavat Special Area of Conservation. Around 30,000 salmon, weighing 2.5kg each, were released following a “severe” seal attack.
The organisations are now preparing a formal complaint to the European Commission.
Andrew Wallace, Managing Director of the ASFB and RAFTS, commented: “The escape of another 30,000 2.5 kg maturing fish close to spawning time near the mouth of one of the western Scotland's most iconic salmon rivers – the Grimersta – comes at the end of a long summer of discontent on the escapes front.
"How sophisticated multi-national companies can afford to lose such valuable stock and continue to play Russian roulette with wild stocks is beyond comprehension. This is the fourth escape from salmon farms in the Western Isles since May and the sheer numbers involved – this latest escape being over 30% of the entire Scottish rod catch – means that these incidents must be viewed with utmost seriousness”.
Mr Wallace continued: “The River Grimersta is part of the Langavat Special Area of Conservation (SAC) designated under EU law to protect the wild salmon population. The proximity to the SAC, the time of year and maturity of the escaped fish present a serious risk to an internationally recognised conservation site and we will be reporting this matter to the European Commission immediately."
Roger Brook, Chairman of RAFTS, added: “At a time when the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation has a stated intent to increase production in Scotland its members have once again shown themselves to be incapable of containing their livestock. This latest release is being blamed on seals but it is the responsibility of the fish farmers to make their containment systems capable of resisting the native wildlife. It is equally their responsibility to ensure their equipment can resist the weather and conditions that are experienced off the coasts of Scotland. These continual releases of farmed fish lead me to the conclusion that all aquaculture should be brought ashore and carried out in land-based tanks."
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