27,500 people  have signed this petition ( thank you, please share again!) and 42 organisations support the campaign.

Marine Scotland (MS) have a problem because they have not complied with their duty to enforce the law protecting  porpoise dolphin and whales from disturbance or injury by salmon farm ADDs. 

MS could solve their problem by granting European Protected Species Licences : cetaceans would continue to be harmed, but now it would be legal. They have sent advice and application forms for EPS licences to salmon farm companies.

BUT to issue licences MS would have to determine that there are 'no satisfactory alternatives' to the use of ADDs and that 'favourable conservation status' of cetaceans would be maintained if ADD use continues. Double nets or stronger single nets are widely used here and abroad to keep seals away from cages without using ADDs, so there are satisfactory alternatives and MS should not issue EPS licences. 

MS have a duty to 'act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias' and 'in an open and transparent manner' however in 2017 MS did not act on advice from their scientific advisors SNH (now renamed NatureScot) that ADDs disturb, displace and can cause injury. Freedom of information responses reveal a  long-term reluctance by MS to enforce the law protecting cetaceans. 

Ms also have a duty not to 'withhold information from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing', but it has taken 3 years of FOI questions, five meetings and a Legal Opinion for MS to concede the simple legal facts of the case. MS have not yet published fish farm applications for EPS licences on their website and, despite a formal complaint, they will not provide a date when these will be published.

We hope that Marine Scotland will henceforth take an impartial, transparent and fair view of the science, agree that there are satisfactory alternatives and ban the use of ADDs  as they are banned abroad, with a phase-in period to allow stronger nets or double nets to be fitted.

If they do not, dolphins, porpoises and whales will need our help. Please continue to share this petition and watch for updates.