Fish farm ban on cards for coasts

THE Scottish Government may introduce laws banning fish farms from operating in some coastal areas.

It could follow Norway, where the law has restricted the spread of farms after growing concerns over the depletion of wild stocks.

A documentary, BBC Scotland Investigates: Scotland’s Fishy Secrets, on BBC1 Scotland tonight, reports anglers claim parasites from farms are partly to blame for falls in wild salmon and sea trout stocks.

Environment minister Stewart Stevenson, asked if legislation this year might see farms banned from areas important to wild stocks, replies: “Of course it may do, and we’ll consult on that.”