Salmon cage retrieval operation soon completed

Siri Elise Dybdal

According to David Sandison, general manager of Shetland Aquaculture, the Morpol-owned company have already recovered two of the missing cages. Four are now reported to have sunk, while six are on their way and should arrive in Lerwick in the next two days - as long as the weather conditions stay good.

Several fishing vessels have been involved in the salvage operation, and the Danish tug Westsund is still watching the remaining six cages.

Sandison says the company is not hopeful with regards to the state of the pens, but claims they may be able to salvage some parts such as walkways and cage pipes.

 “It is remarkable that some of the cages have stayed in one piece in the North Sea in these conditions,” he points out. However the effect of towing the cages could still break them up, he adds

Around 300,000 salmon worth an estimated £3 million were being held in the cages. Sandison says it is safe to say that the majority of the fish have died.

The loss of the cages will have a detrimental impact on the business and its suppliers.

The Meridian Salmon Group was not the only salmon farming company in Shetland to lose fish in the storm. The same night, a Scottish Sea Farms lost up to 30,000 salmon from one of cage.