'New' fish farm in the Sound

[NickB]

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If penning a letter is too much effort for you then I think it would be unreasonable to blame SEPA should this proposal go ahead . . .

Surely the thing to do is to include your observations as expressed above in your letter to SEPA. They may then explain why they are soliciting comment before taking action.

[spiderman]

I've probably penned more letters than you've had hot breakfasts and will continue so to do but only because SEPA and the council planning authorities don't do their jobs properly. All I'm saying is that SEPA has a huge range of scientific experts whom we pay for to protect our environment and they have a big set of legal teeth (excerpt from their weekly news e-mail coincidently received this morning: "during 2007-2010, 139 cases were referred to the Procurator Fiscal by us, with 75% of these resulting in convictions and a further 7.5% in Procurator Fiscal warning letters or fines") so why do they not kill at birth very near-shore applications which they themselves deem likely to cause pollution impacts?

[NickB]

why do they not kill at birth very near-shore applications which they themselves deem likely to cause pollution impacts?

I dunno - but please do ask them and come back and share. I'm slightly curious as well.

- W

[Gavin Rae]

Can I ask a simple question !!

So millions of pounds been spent on a sewage improvement system which I'm told will improve the water quality of Seil Sound and Balvicar Bay and untimately result in an improvement in the quality of shellfish locally

Are you telling me that a fish farm application will be granted on the back of this ?

I think not !

And if so then we need to go back to SEPA Scottish Water and A and B and seek clarification from the ombudsmen

[NickB]

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Seabed pollution at almost two thirds of Scottish salmon farms is either ‘unsatisfactory’ or ‘borderline’, analysis of Freedom of Information reveals.

[Husker Doo]

Ithink we need Donnie C to enlighten us on the state of local waters as far as i n
know there has been a 100 percent improvement

[Mhes]

I can remember, maybe 2 years ago, rowing across balvicar bay and seeing cormorants sitting on most of the vacant buoys. Nowadays, you rarely see this. Any thoughts on why? Pollution or global warming must be two major suspects. If pollution is a problem in Balvicar, then a bigger fish farm won't help and evidence from other farms suggests the problem will get worse if this development (with no benefit to locals) is allowed.

[DonnieC]

Sorry Husker, can no longer comment on this with any accuracy - retired from it all!

However, I understand, talking to local shellfish farmers, the quality of the waters in Seil Sound are much improved! Perhaps a local grower could comment on this?

Pollution in Balvcar Bay has been well discussed before. I don't believe it was ever a serious problem having farmed shellfish there myself.

Will this new, expanded finned fish farm cause a problem? Mmmm, think the jury's out on that one! Personally speaking I don't think so.

It wuzzny me!

Referring to a different but related topic, it's an absolute disgrace that the new 'all singing/all dancing' sewerage system is not working properly. Like many others in the district I had a perfectly efficient septic tank ( I know, I used to test it for e coli as part of the job) but was told that I had to join the system as I would be held personally responsible if it failed.

Seems to me the boot's very much on the other foot now.

Anybody know can we opt out and join back up to our own system?

Finally, I understand there is/was a ban on harvesting and selling shellfish from Seil Sound/Loch Melfort. This was not an e coli problem but a raised level of naturally occurring algal toxins and nothing Scottish Water or fish farmers or anybody could do about it. Is it still in force?

[Seventhseil]

with regards to the sewage system, perhaps a change in diet for all inhabitants, an increase in the consumption of fruit, may lead to more trips to the toilet, thus leading to the increase of turd production then the system would work. Or put a public toilet on the system where the bus loads of OAPs can unload a few pounds of faeces.......

[Minimum]

Perhaps all the dog poo on Easdale Island could be shovelled in too!

[jimcee]

Now there's an intelligent suggestion.
And how about all the rabbit droppings on the golf course?
When you think about it, the wildlife are prolific in their production of the stuff - all it needs is a bit of training by SEPA or other do-gooders, and we can say goodbye to tanker visits.

[Mhes]

Finally, I understand there is/was a ban on harvesting and selling shellfish from Seil Sound/Loch Melfort.......Is it still in force?

Any info on this would be appreciated.

[DonnieC]

Mhes, To my knowledge there is still a ban on bivalve mollusc collection for human consumption in Seil Sound, Loch Melfort and surrounding area.

It is because levels of algal toxins are considered at a dangerous level.

Algal blooms can occur at any time of the year - usually, but not always, in the summer months. I also understand that Loch Selve in Mull has a similar ban and there will be other areas in Scotland similarly affected. West Loch Tarbert, about 2/3 years ago, was closed for nearly a year.

There should be public warning notices on view in all these areas.

This has nothing to do with potential ecoli in the waters around the Bay and Sound but is due to a natural and totally unpredictable occurrence of algal blooms or concentrations in the water.

Subject was historically well covered on Seil Chat.

[Mhes]

DonnieC - Many thanks

Is there an official website where these bans are announced?

[DonnieC]

Mhes, If you google 'notification of argyll and bute shellfish closures' you'll get loads of info.

I didn't realise there were so many temporary closures in place.

[NickB]

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There's an excellent article by Ewan Kennedy on ForArgyll today:

New Environment Minister ducks call in on marine pollution

It certainly raises some very serious concerns. I have to say Ewan's persistence and clear explanation of the issues has changed my previous laissez-faire attitude to this installation.