Dear Matthew,
In response to your editorial “Developer slams Scottish Government”
We understand that Salmon Business focuses on the economic contributions of salmon farming, so it makes sense that your coverage highlights the industry’s role in the economy. This is also the perspective from which investors and the government will be assessing Loch Long Salmon’s (LLS) proposals. However, through extensive research, we’ve found that many of their claims around semi closed containment technology being able to address the well publicised issues around open net farming just don’t hold up to scrutiny.
At its core, the delay in reaching a decision may indeed reflect the Scottish government’s aversion to risk. If this technology were truly as effective as LLS claims, established aquaculture businesses would be backing it—but they aren’t. The reality is that this remains an unproven system, and LLS itself lacks the substance and experience to manage such a project successfully. If it fails, the risk falls squarely on the local community, not the company.
The technology is still experimental. Semi Closed Containment systems (SCCS), including the company that LLS declared to be “best in its class”, have faced well-documented issues, including incidences of high fish mortality and structural failures. Of the two pens so far sold by this company at the scale proposed by LLS for both Loch Long and Loch Linnhe (30000m3), one was rejected due to structural problems and the other collapsed as it was being towed to site.
The project manager lacks industry experience. Compounding concerns about risk, LLS’s project manager has no prior experience in aquaculture. Meanwhile, his boss—the CEO—is leaving the country to lead another fish farming company in New Zealand, raising serious questions about the long-term leadership and oversight of projects of this scale, if they were to go ahead.
Waste extraction claims are misleading. LLS continue to claim 80-90% waste extraction, and SEPA granted their CAR licence based on this prediction. However, during the appeal hearing, they were forced to admit that no more than 40% has ever been achieved anywhere in the world.
Fish may still need open-net farming. The fish would likely only grow to post-smolt size (1-1.5kg) before being transferred to open-net farms for full growth. This process can cause injury, and handling/mechanisation is already one of the leading causes of fish mortality in Scotland.
Sea lice aren't the biggest issue. While the company promotes its technology as a solution to sea lice, current major threats in Scotland’s salmon farms include amoebic gill disease and micro-jellyfish, not just sea lice. Research also shows that SCC technology can only reduce—rather than eliminate—the problem.
This is not a true “closed” system. LLS plays fast and loose with terminology, either referring to the system as “closed” or, more recently, as a "Sustainable Closed Containment System" (SCCS), whereas the system draws water from the loch and returns all dissolved effluent, including any uneaten feed and 100% of the pee and nitrogen back into the same space. The extra turbulence created by the rapid water changes and the high proposed density of fish will break up much more of the feed and faeces than either an open pen, or a closed circulation land based system. Instead of a genuinely closed system where water quality is controlled, this setup allows waste - and potentially harmful pathogens - to circulate around the pens in the same and/or nearby enclosures. Since these farms need to be located in areas with low currents due to their solid sides, this problem, both within and around the cages is only compounded.
At what point do the risks outweigh the greenwashed sustainability claims used to sell these projects? Investors—who may not even know where Loch Long or Loch Linnhe are—take financial risks, but it’s the local communities that face the environmental consequences. Those living here, many of whom rely on unspoiled marine and coastal environments for their livelihoods, have every reason to be concerned.
With the CEO now halfway across the world, leaving the project to be led by someone with no aquaculture experience, who will be accountable if/when things go wrong?
Best regards,
On behalf of Long Live Loch Linnhe
