A LOCH Etive fish farm is being investigated by Scotland’s pollution watchdog for an ‘unpermitted use of a pesticide’ to control sea lice, which campaigners say coincided with a rise in dead fish.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has launched a probe into Dawnfresh, one of the UK’s largest producers of fish and seafood, following a breach of its pollution licence, ‘where consecutive bath treatments with azamethiphos were carried out at Etive 6 less than 24 hours after the first treatment. These treatments are not in compliance with the site’s CAR [Controlled Activities Regulations] licence.
‘Appalled’ anti-fish farm campaigners from the Friends of Loch Etive (FoLE) group stated the release of the organophosphate, which is ‘highly toxic to marine crustaceans such as crabs, prawns and lobsters’, will have ‘risked serious harm’ in Loch Etive’.