Salmon farm could threatens island of Eigg's green credentials

The community-owned Isle of Eigg has profiled itself as a green island since switching on their sustainable electricity grid. However, a proposed fish farm on the east coast of the island, which the Scottish Salmon Company are in the process of doing pre-application research for, would bring diesel generators back on the island for the first time since February 2008,the environmental affairs magazine  the Ecologist reports.

This is one of the reasons the community on Eigg has voted almost unanimously in favour of protesting against the fish farm. Eddie Scott, chairman of the Isle of Eigg Residents' Association, worries that all the work that the Isle of Eigg Trust has done to make the isle green will be cancelled out by the fish farm: The Scottish Salmon Company is still at the stage prior to filing a planning permission for the fish farm.

Rebecca Dean, Environment Manager at the Scottish Salmon Company, told the Ecologist: “At the moment we're at very early stages so we've gone and put forward some proposals. And the community will come back to us with some specific concerns.

“In terms of socio-economic development it's a fantastic opportunity for Eigg. It gives secure and sustainable and long-term employment for people, it's an excellent opportunity and it fits very nicely in with the sustainable development and green image of Eigg.”

Scott said that the jobs are a bonus, but is not convinced by this promise of jobs as he questions whether they will go to locals. Even if the jobs are offered exclusively to Eigg residents, Scott stresses that jobs shouldn't be accepted at all costs.

“We believe the overall effect of any jobs the fish farm might create would threaten current and future jobs based around the natural heritage and the green economy,” he told the magazine.