New salmon farm off Westray gets green light

A new salmon farm which will use what were described as the largest cages used in the aquaculture industry in Scotland is to be sited off the coast of Westray.

Plans for the development, which will create eight jobs and includes a 600 tonne feed barge, were approved of at a meeting of Orkney Islands Council’s planning committee today, Wednesday, having been put forward by Cooke Aquaculture Scotland Limited.

The site is situated east of Skelwick Skerry, North Sound, Westray, and consists of eight 130 metre in circumference cages, which have a diameter of 41.38 meters.

There were no objections from statutory or internal consultees, or public objections to the development.

Those with interests in sailing, ferries and fishing, were all consulted with during the process.

There were some concerns raised about the fact that the site lies in what was described by committee chairman Owen Tierney as a “remote, exposed location,” however reassurances were given on the strength and suitability of the cage and grid structure by Cooke Aquaculture Scotland Limited representatives at the meeting, environmental officer Naomi Dempsey and environment and development manager Chis Webb.

The meeting was also told that cages of this size were used in other areas, including Canada and the Faroe Islands.