Aquaculture

Cooke Aquaculture Scotland secures approval for new offshore salmon farm in Orkneys

Baird Maritime

The planning committee of Scotland's Orkney Islands Council has given its approval for Cooke Aquaculture Scotland to build a six-cage salmon farming site located offshore East Moclett, Papa Westray, in the North Sound.

The committee accepted that the proposed salmon farm was rigorously assessed by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), which raised no issues or objections to the site.

The fish farm was also assessed against all relevant policies of the Orkney Local Development Plan and other relevant material planning considerations. The Orkney Islands Council agreed with the planning staff, who concluded that on balance the objections raised by various parties were not of sufficient weight to merit refusal.

Joel Richardson, Vice President of Public Relations for Cooke Aquaculture Scotland, said that Cooke will continue dialogue with the Papa Westray Community Council and Papa Westray residents and ensure that the new farm site is compliant with all appropriate regulations and best practices.