economy
February 17, 2026
'It’s betrayal': Shetland’s scallop fishers brace for arrival of UK’s largest salmon farm
Huge project by Norwegian-owned Scottish Sea Farms gets go-ahead amid concerns over the environmental cost of fish farming and threat to traditional way of life
TL;DR
- Shetland Islands Council approved plans for the UK's largest salmon farm, located near established scallop beds.
- Local fishermen express concerns about the environmental impact and the threat to their traditional livelihoods from the expansion of salmon farming.
- The company behind the farm, Scottish Sea Farms (SSF), is Norwegian-owned and is a major employer on the islands.
- Environmental groups and some politicians are raising alarms about high fish mortality rates in the industry and the ecological consequences of farm expansion.
- The Scottish parliament's rural affairs and islands committee is scrutinizing salmon farming practices, with potential for a moratorium on expansion if concerns are not addressed.
- While SSF argues larger farms can reduce seabed impact, critics point to the significant profits leaving the local economy and the impact on marine life.
Continue reading the original article