The Isle of Eigg Says No to Fish Farm
The Isle of Eigg off the west coast of Scotland, has a special place in the heart of this family. I’ve been there a number of times, I’ve had the privilege of watching otters, golden eagles, seals and pods of porpoise, going about their business. It is a magical place and the people who live there care about it passionately
If the residents of Eigg say no to the proposal to site a fish farm of the coast of the island, it will be for good reason.
Opposition to a Fish Farm on the Isle of Eigg
Eigg is owned and managed (including the foreshore) by the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust, a community led organisation whose aims include taking all appropriate measures to conserve the natural heritage of the island for the benefit of the community & the wider general public.
To this end Eigg is building a reputation as a green island working towards sustainability. Visitors come to the island to learn from our experience and to enjoy the natural and cultural heritage of the island and the peace and quiet. Most of the islands electricity is generated by renewable technology and the sound of diesel generators is but a distant memory.
Highland Council has recently received an initial application to site a fish farm off the east coast of Eigg, north of Kildonan. The site identified covers an area extending to 20ha (this equates to 28 football pitches) & would consist of 14 x 30m diameter cages which would be serviced by a 10m x 10m permanently sited barge (powered by diesel generator).
The community has considered this proposal at length. The outcome of the resulting ballot which had an 86% turnout was 97% against the development.
Eigg lies within the Small Isles National Scenic Area. A large fish farm would have a considerable negative impact on the approach to the island and could also impact negatively on the peace and quiet that visitors seek when they come to the island, as well as on the quality of life of nearby residents.
Be a good Eigg, and pop along and sign the on line petition (and you can find some more photos of Eigg here, just a few, sadly I’ve not been up to Eigg since I got into the digital camera lark, I’m sure there would be 100’s and 100’s of images if I went now)
September 10, 2011 at 2:59 am
Majority rules! So glad the people of that idyllic place say no to the fish farm.
September 10, 2011 at 7:27 am
I’m more than happy to support this! Terrific photos. xx
September 10, 2011 at 8:17 am
September 10, 2011 at 10:42 am
Done! The people of Eigg have spoken, and they should be listened to.
September 10, 2011 at 6:07 pm
If it’s anything like here across the pond in the US, the pro farmers will have the judges declare the petition unconstitutional…Wonderful pictures by the way.
September 10, 2011 at 9:34 pm
Good for the Isle of Eigg. I applaud their forsightfulness.
September 10, 2011 at 11:50 pm
Eigg seems like a wonderful place – and I’m happy glad that the population take good care of this place. So you can go there again and show us MANY more nice photos from there 🙂
September 11, 2011 at 3:19 am
It looks like such a beautiful place. I hope the people of Eigg will be listened to.
September 12, 2011 at 10:53 am
My son would love Eigg. He wanted specifically to go on holiday to an island this summer. We went to the Scillies instead. It was just for the day but next year we want to go for the week. I don’t know if you have ever been but it really is beautiful. The gardens at Tresco you would particularly appreciate.
September 13, 2011 at 6:19 pm
I’ll never understand why people would wish to destroy a beautiful, quiet, peaceful place. I half suspect it’s precisely because “Eigg is building a reputation as a green island working towards sustainability.” Can’t have that now, can we! And the bullies come howling over the hill.