‘Ocean farms are on the horizon’
Offshore developments will come after industry has moved to fewer, bigger pens, says Scottish fish farmer's environment chief
It’s only a matter of time before ocean salmon farms are developed and deployed in Scotland, according to Scottish Sea Farms’ recently appointed head of environment.
Chris Webb, who joined the company after spending nearly a decade as environmental and development manager with fellow salmon farmer Cooke Aquaculture Scotland, made the prediction during an interview with SSF’s staff newsletter, The Source.
“My main priority is to help grow the business and Scottish Sea Farms has a clear vision for moving forward,” said Webb.
Suitable locations
“You only need to look at how SalMar and Lerøy, Scottish Sea Farms’ joint owners, have developed in their native Norway to see the changes that could be made here in Scotland - namely, a rationalisation of farms to fewer but bigger pens, something we’re now seeing here, and a move further offshore that will potentially allow further consolidation and growth.
“It’s only a matter of time before ocean farms are developed and deployed in Scotland, as they are in Norway, once we find suitable locations for them and the time is right.”
SSF’s first task is to master its step up from 120-metre to 160m pens, now installed at Fishnish off Mull, and eventually 200m pens.
“Once we have a better understanding of the challenges posed, we’ll be in a strong position to move further offshore, including novel projects such as Scotland’s first ocean farm,” said Webb, who began his aquaculture career in 1989 as an assistant site manager at a fish farm at Ardmore, near Kinlochbervie, Sutherland.
Specialised team
Webb said the salmon companies he’s been involved with have demonstrated a huge commitment to sustainable farming practices.
“Today, we need a specialised team of staff to be able to prepare environmental impact assessments and all the associated work that forms part of an application, and to liaise with government and regulatory bodies,” he told The Source.
He heads up a workforce of 12, working closely with SSF’s head of sustainability and development Anne Anderson.
Streamlined consenting
“Scotland’s salmon growers have adapted well over the years by expanding their environmental teams. However, the number of staff in regulatory departments hasn’t kept pace, which impacts on understanding of the sector and response times,” explained Webb.
Implementation of a more streamlined consenting process has been recommended in a Scottish Government-commissioned report by regulatory expert Professor Russell Griggs, and that’s something which Webb believes would be of huge benefit both to the sector and regulators.
But he is not sitting on his hands waiting for that to happen.
“As soon as the statutory timescales are coming to an end, if we’ve not received an adequate response, we need to be chasing regulators,” he told The Source.
