SSPO condemn illegal use of nets

Siri Elise Dybdal

Graham McNally, who is the regional manager of Meridian Salmon Farms in Shetland, pleaded guilty at Lerwick Sheriff Court to using two illegal nets around salmon cages in Shetland which could have resulted in the death of grey or common seals, as they hunted out valuable salmon stocks.

He was fined £800 for an offence under Conservation (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1994.

Commenting on the verdict of Lerwick Sheriff Court, Scott Landsburgh, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation, said: "There is no place in the Scottish salmon farming industry for anyone who flouts the law. We are justifiably proud of our standards of husbandry and this kind of incident is deeply regrettable. We fully support the Court's findings."