Shetland fishermen condemn SIC approval of the UK’s largest salmon farm, warning it threatens livelihoods, inshore grounds, wild fish and community stability. Photo: geograph.org.uk
Fishermen Say Concerns Have Been Ignored
Shetland fishermen have condemned Shetland Islands Council for approving Scottish Sea Farms’ Fish Holm application, a development set to become the largest salmon farm in Scotland.
Speaking to The Shetland Times, the Shetland Fishermen’s Association said planners had ignored legitimate concerns, leaving fishermen questioning their future.
The decision was made yesterday despite strong and repeated objections from inshore fishermen who rely on Yell Sound for their livelihoods.
Local Fishing Grounds Described as Irreplaceable
SFA executive officer Sheila Keith said fishermen are devastated by the approval. She said the decision represents another loss of working grounds that generations of local crews have depended on.
She said Fish Holm is an active and productive fishing area, not an empty space on a chart. Small, locally owned boats work these grounds, with crews relying on them to support their families and sustain the island economy. Scallop fishermen in particular depend on these waters, which she described as irreplaceable. She said approving a development of this scale directly over these grounds excludes those who have fished them responsibly for decades.
Fears That Fishermen No Longer Matter
Ms Keith said fishermen have consistently attempted to work constructively with aquaculture interests, urging respect for the fishing industry and its importance to island life. She said the decision makes it harder for fishermen to believe their concerns carry any weight with either developers or the local authority.
She said Shetland’s fishing industry remains one of the last genuinely local and community rooted sectors in the isles, and that it deserves space and decisions that reflect its value. Instead, fishermen are left wondering what future remains for them, especially with more applications of this kind already in the pipeline.
Shellfish Sector Also Opposed The Proposal
The Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation also opposed the development. It said that allowing a large corporation to occupy productive fishing grounds at the expense of small local businesses would be morally wrong. It warned that the plans would displace established fishermen from grounds they have long relied upon.
Despite the opposition, the SIC planning notice stated that, on balance, the application was considered acceptable in relation to impacts on other marine users.
Scottish Sea Farms Welcomes Approval
Scottish Sea Farms welcomed the council’s decision. The company said the approval reflects its move towards fewer, larger sites in deeper and higher energy waters to improve fish health and welfare. It said the development represents an expansion and consolidation of an existing farm.
The company also highlighted its contribution to the Shetland economy. It employs nearly 300 people in the isles, including about 160 across 20 active marine farms, making it the largest private employer in the islands. It said developments such as Fish Holm help retain and support skilled local jobs.
Environmental Group Raises Serious Wild Fish Concerns
Contacting The Fishing Daily after the news was announced, environmental group WildFish also criticised the approval. Scotland director Nick Underdown said the development represents an unprecedented expansion of industrial salmon farming in an area already surrounded by large sites. The proposed 6000 tonne biomass raised significant concerns about cumulative impacts on wild sea trout and salmon, particularly from sea lice.
He said sea lice from salmon farms are widely recognised by government scientists as a risk to wild salmonids. He pointed out that several nearby sites have recently recorded elevated lice levels and high mortalities. He said that approving an even larger site in this context introduces serious environmental risk.
Questions Raised Over Regulation and Timing
Mr Underdown said the decision is concerning because the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee is currently examining whether salmon farming is being effectively regulated. He said approving Scotland’s largest salmon farm while that scrutiny is ongoing appears inconsistent with the precautionary approach that Parliament expects to see.
He also noted that salmon farming companies continue to challenge strengthened sea lice controls introduced by SEPA, which adds uncertainty to the regulatory safeguards intended to protect wild fish.
WildFish said it shares concerns with many other organisations and individuals, and that it will review the council’s decision before considering next steps.
