Fish farm 'threatens' ban plans – Fishupdate.com

PLANS to create a fish farm off Arran would undermine a project to create a “no take zone”, campaigners fear.

According to BBC News, a public meeting is to be held to discuss the proposals for Lamlash Bay.

The Community of Arran Seabed Trust (Coast) wants fishing banned in part of the island’s waters to regenerate the seabed and sensitive sea life.

But Marine Harvest, which has recently been taken over by the Norwegian group Pan Fish, wants planning permission for a large fish farm in the area.

Islanders say it would be sited directly on a scallop bed they were hoping to re-seed as part of an experiment in rebuilding stocks of fish and shellfish in the Firth of Clyde.

In September, Coast reached an outline agreement with the Clyde Fishermen’s Association during a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s environment committee.

Under the deal all fishing would be banned in the eastern part of the bay and only angling and creel boat fishing would be allowed in the western part of the bay.

Scallop beds to the north of the bay would be re-seeded and protected to allow them to develop.

However, islanders say the planning application would undermine the whole project.

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