Mowi offers to relocate Loch Ewe and Loch Duich farms
Mowi Scotland has proposed closing its salmon farms at Loch Ewe and Loch Duich, on condition regulators give backing to transfer the biomass to other locations and the expansion of production.
The company said Loch Ewe and Loch Duich were as candidates for relocation due to the enclosed nature of the sea lochs where the farms are situated and the sites’ proximity to sensitive wild salmonid habitats.
“Mowi has strived to improve relations with the wild fish sector and has been clear that it will seek to expand its operations in Scotland, whilst securing reduced impact on the environment and further developing the significant economic contribution that it makes to rural Scotland,” said Mowi Scotland managing director Ben Hadfield in a press release.
Transfer and expansion
“In absence of a regulatory framework that enables relocation of a farm’s biomass, we are wanting to engage with our government, environmental groups and salmon fishery boards to pursue this opportunity.
“The sites will be closed permanently conditional to the support from our regulatory system to transfer the biomass to other locations, and to sustainably expand our production in the best possible areas for salmon farming thus protecting the associated jobs.”
Mowi’s head of environmental management, Stephen MacIntyre, said: “We want to align our growth plans with the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Economy and Connectivity (REC) Committee’s recent recommendations and have plans to sustainably grow our fish production levels over the next few years by expanding into new high-energy farming areas located further offshore.”
Minimise risk to wild salmon
The REC Committee report recommended the Scottish Government discuss with salmon farm companies the potential to minimise risk to wild salmon and to improve the locations of existing farms and grow production in a sustainable way.
Mowi is a leader in Scotland for farming in high-energy sites, with two new locations off the Isle of Muck and the Isle of Rum.
Hadfield said Mowi had spoken to farm staff Loch Ewe and Loch Duich to assure them their employment can continue at other new or expanded locations.
“Our ambition is to close contentious locations, jointly working with wild fishery managers. We will create increased employment and retain our experienced and dedicated staff, and we will work with west coast Scottish communities to release all the value from farming Mowi salmon in the best possible locations,” said the managing director.
Environmental footprint
“Success for this relocation initiative will be a net increase in production, a net increase in export value for Scotland and a net reduction in our environmental footprint at sensitive locations. Scotland’s potential exit from the EU is challenging for us, and as a major and growing employer in the country, we will do our utmost to retain and develop our experienced staff.”
The press release included a statement from Bill Whyte, convener for Wester Ross Area Salmon Fishery Board.
He said: “We welcome Mowi’s recognition that enclosed sea lochs near to sensitive wild salmonid habitat can increase localised impact on wild salmonids.
“We will expect further clarity about the process of biomass relocation, however, if Mowi can provide evidence through EIA (environmental impact assessment) planning and SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) regulatory structure that the relocated biomass will have reduced potential impact on wild migratory fish, then we would be prepared to support biomass relocation on a conditional basis.”
