Consultation closes on contentious Perthshire fish farm

SEPA will deliberate on Loch Tay expansion proposal

A fish farming business has walked into a heated conflict with Perthshire conservationists and fisheries interests with its plans to expand its trout farm at Acharn on Loch Tay.

Oban-based Kames Fish Farming, which operates 14 sites in Scotland, has applied to water regulator SEPA to hike its permitted phosphorous discharge levels by 112% to expand rainbow trout production to 486 tonnes by 2029.

The family-run business, which has won sustainability awards, commissioned researchers from Stirling University who modelled that an additional annual phosphorous loading of 3053kg would still enable Loch Tay to maintain its water quality status required by the Water Framework Directive.

Loch Tay Association has expressed fears for Loch users

Wide opposition

However, the proposed move – which will not precipitate an increased number of cages- has met with strong reaction from fisheries interests, community groups and conservationists, with the public consultation closing on Thursday (13th Aug).

The Loch Tay Association, which represents businesses and residents, fear the addition of higher nutrient levels will worsen algal blooms on the Loch, causing eutrophication.

The phosphorous discharge comes from uneaten fish feed, faeces and other waste. Kames, which employs 50 staff, also want to add chemicals Divosan and Hypofoam to the permitted substances it can use at its Loch Tay farm.

These chemicals are used in disease control and pathogen and protein removal. Hypofoam is highly chlorinated and is toxic to aquatic life if its enters water bodies.

The Loch Tay Association has expressed safety fears for wild swimmers and recreational water users, a contention Kames has moved to address saying it, too, wants the best water quality on the loch.

Fisheries interests are opposed to the expansion

Fisheries opposed

Tay Catchment Salmon Alliance, which sprung from the Tay Ghillies Association, say it is fundamentally opposed to cage aquaculture at sea and even more so in the waters of Loch Tay.

“We object to cage aquaculture at sea and we certainly object to it in our inland lochs, especially those in Special Areas of Conservation such as Loch Tay!,” read a post on its official Facebook page.

Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board which protects the Tay catchment through fisheries management, conservation, research and enforcement (illegal fishing), has submitted a formal response to the consultation along with many others.

SEPA will now consider all responses and the evidence from Kames before making its final decision.

Kames say the expansion will lead to the creation of 2 new jobs. Opponents say phosphorous modelling should not be the only consideration when assessing the proposed expansion and that the community should have its say.

The fish farm is about 1 mile from Kenmore