This flapper skate is scavenging the 'dead zone' near a salmon farm. Toxic chemicals used to treat disease and sea lice accumulate in the mud. The white bacterial mat indicates a highly polluted sea bed.

The 2.5 metre Flapper Skate, the largest skate in the world, are found in the waters off Scotland's west coast . They are classified on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as 'critically endangered' and in decline. 

BDNC fish farm, in Argyll, within the only UK Marine Protected Area for skate, is already one of the largest farms in Scotland. It has planning consent for the installation (but not the operation) of two 180 decibel Acoustic Deterrent Devices which illegally harm porpoise, dolphins and whales. It does not have the European Protected Species Licence required to operate them, nor could it pass the 3 tests required to obtain an EPS Licence.

In reality, twenty 196 decibel ADDs have been operating on the site. 

There are issues with animal welfare, as evidenced by the large numbers of dead fish featured on the last update to this petition.

The owners are in the process of applying for two extra 120m cages. Argyll and Bute Planners have produced a scoping report. They "adopt the opinion that the development described above is unlikely to give rise to 'significant environmental effects'" and have decided that the planning application does not need an Environmental Impact Assessment. As far as we know, the farm, one of the largest in Scotland has never had an EIA.

If you think the use of ADDs and expansion is wrong, please email and share this petition!