Investigation launched into salmon disposal practices on North Uist
An investigation by Scotland’s environmental regulator, SEPA, has been initiated following allegations of illegal salmon carcass disposal on a beach in the Outer Hebrides.
Footage captured by an environmental group appears to show large quantities of dead salmon being buried at a site operated by waste disposal company Whiteshore Cockles, despite a ban on the practice introduced earlier this year.
The burial of salmon mortalities on coastal land was prohibited in January 2024, after which all fish farm waste was required to be processed at licensed facilities. Whiteshore Cockles, which specializes in processing fish farm mortalities, had informed SEPA in May that it had ceased burial activities. However, footage released by Ecotricity appears to contradict this, showing salmon being disposed of at the North Uist site.
Concerns have been raised about the potential for cross-contamination, as the footage also shows local wildlife gaining access to the area where the salmon carcasses were buried. SEPA has confirmed that it is now investigating the matter in collaboration with other public agencies.
Mowi, the UK’s largest salmon producer and a user of Whiteshore Cockles for waste disposal, acknowledged the incident.
Ben Hadfield, Mowi’s Chief Operating Officer, told ITV News: “They have obviously done something that is not licensed and wrong, according to this footage, I think a common sense decision was made to do that, but they should have stuck to the law.”
“We’ve taken that up with them, we were assured that it was very temporary and it only occurred because it was a choice between making a potential discharge to the atmosphere and causing an odour or managing it sensibly by burying it while the plant was down.
“I will not condone it, but I think they made a common sense decision to bury a small amount while the plant was down and incapacitated and hence once the plant was working then they went back to routine measures.”
Whiteshore Cockles has not commented publicly on the allegations, but SEPA has confirmed it is investigating whether the company has breached environmental regulations.
The Scottish government, which previously provided a temporary derogation allowing the burial of fish mortalities, has stated that compliance and enforcement of the new regulations are now the responsibility of SEPA and other relevant agencies.
