Environmental Monitoring

Farmers, first and foremost, look to maximise the natural resources available to them.  They have a vested interest in protecting the environment – the basis on which the future of salmon farming depends.  The industry relies on a clean and unpolluted environment to optimise production and protect the reputation of its products.  It also wants to enjoy public confidence and hopes this will be achieved by transparently implementing measures to protect that environment and by co-operating with the community.

Just some of the measures that the industry undertakes to protect the environment:

• Benthic analysis (sediment samples) is carried out for all farms by Shetland Seafood Quality Control (SSQC) Ltd at the North Atlantic Fisheries College in Scalloway.  The provision of a local, affordable service allows the industry to comply with annual seabed monitoring requirements and address some of the perceived problems caused by the industry to the marine environment quickly and efficiently.
  
• Since March 1999 all developments of new farm sites and many existing sites in Shetland are subject to a full independent Environmental Impact Assessment.  The procedure looks at local and site specific issues resulting from a consultation process, outlined by Shetland Islands Council.  The final statement includes all the available information regarding the proposed site with consideration to existing aquaculture development in the region.  It also identifies local environmental conditions and assesses the potential change to the environment and outlines measures that may be pursued by the developer to mitigate potential concerns and impacts.
  
• A programme of installation of blood water treatment plants in packing stations has led to a significant reduction in disease risk and environmental pollution.  The system controls the output of blood water by filtration and ozonation.
  
• New developments in feed technology including sensors and underwater cameras immediately detect any uneaten food and pause feeding to ensure that any feed waste is kept to an absolute minimum.

Voluntary Area Management Agreements (AMAs) have been introduced to encourage companies in all aspects of the fish farming process – salmon farmers and wherever possible shellfish growers - to work closer together to improve working relationships and practices, protect the environment, improve the health and welfare of their product, and ultimately secure the long-term sustainability of the industry