Four existing consents to farm in the more sheltered, shallower waters of Sandsound Voe – Brei Geo Inshore (1,209 tonnes), Brei Geo Offshore (2,635 tonnes), Sandsound Voe (100 tonnes) and Sandsound Bixter (1,000 tonnes) – will be surrendered.
In their place will be one new farm, Billy Baa (4,091 tonnes), sited slightly further offshore where hydrodynamic modelling found there to be even better growing conditions, but without any increase to overall environmental load.
Commenting on the news, Scottish Sea Farms Head of Sustainability and Development Anne Anderson said: ‘By combining four smaller consents into one location, equipped with fewer but larger pens, we’re seeking to maximise water exchange and oxygen levels – two key factors supporting fish growth – in and around the farm.
‘It will also be a more efficient approach to farming this stretch of Scalloway’s waters, enabling the team to concentrate their time, skill and resources in one location, further boosting fish health, welfare and survival.’
Those local to the area won’t see any change for some time yet, however.
‘The next step is to secure the SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) CAR licence which, if awarded, will set permitted levels on fish volumes and veterinary medicines in order to minimise any environmental impact from the farm.
‘These levels will be informed by the capacity of the marine environment to disperse materials and any local sensitivities.’
Should the SEPA CAR licence be granted, the farm is likely to be stocked with its first fish in 2026.
‘Our policy has always been to secure the relevant approvals and licences first, before ordering the farm infrastructure or assigning fish,’ said Anderson. ‘We don’t assume anything; the planning and consenting process is there for a reason.
‘Should we be successful, however, we would hope to be in a position to be stocking Billy Baa in 2026.’
As part of its rolling programme of farm modernisations and consolidations, Scottish Sea Farms has a second proposed development, Fish Holm in Yell Sound, under consideration by Shetland Islands Council.
This is one of two planning notifications (the other by fellow salmon grower MOWI in the Highlands and Islands region) that are helping to trial a new, improved licensing and consenting process for salmon farms.
Under the new process, local authority panners and SEPA work together to review submissions in consultation with key stakeholders, rather than each body consider the applications separately as currently happens.
You can read more by clicking here.