New salmon farms planned for Harris
It is seeking planning permission for 16 cages plus a feed barge at Reibinish, Scadabay, in the Bays of Harris, according to Hebrides News
Reibinish lies to the south of East Loch Tarbert on South Harris and if approved, the site would farm 2,000 tonnes of salmon which would be processed at the company’s Marybank facility.
The firm has been looking for other sites close by including Rubha Na Moine at Kyles Scalpay. It recently won permission for a new farm in Benbecula.
Talking about selection of the Reibinish site Stewart McLelland, Chief Operating Officer of The Scottish Salmon Company, told the Stornoway Gazette: “Every site chosen is scrupulously assessed and we have consulted widely before submitting a planning application. Reibinish offers the right conditions for salmon farming and would provide an important boost to our Western Isles operation.”
The company recently reported the spread of Amoebic Gill Disease (AGD) could kill up to 1,000 tonnes of fish which could wreck this year’s production.
Harris fishermen are worried about the expansion of salmon farms on Harris. They are concerned that vast quantities of hydrogen peroxide, often used as bleach and in cleaning chemicals, are being disposed into sea lochs and important fishing grounds after treating farmed salmon for (AGD).
The Scottish Salmon Company says the chemical disperses in the sea, Hebrides News wrote.
