We’ve added a link to the Canna petition to out page of Petitions and Groups. If you’ve not checked it out, you can find it here: Petitions and Groups
Responding to SEPA CAR applications
Over the last couple days, the deadline for the Controlled Activities Regulation applications for two fish farm projects in the Clyde area have come to the end of their public consideration phase, and we managed to get a couple responses in.
CAR/L/1003268 is an application by The Scottish Salmon Company to greatly expand their Ardyne point installation, in Loch Striven, across from Port Bannatyne. This closed on June 5th.
CAR/L/1178003 is an application by DawnFresh Farming to get permission to fish farm off Ardentinny, in Loch Long. This closed today, June 7th.
We’ll shortly have the letter we rushed to get in put up on our resources page, and properly converted into a template, so that as further CAR applications are made to SEPA, we have a ready response to opposing them on many well established grounds.
Bute Island Radio Interview
Last Friday, (May 24th), Will and Theresa Nelson were invited on the Community Show with Mike Blair, hosted on Bute Island Radio.
Kilchattan / Glencallum Bay swim with Bute Outdoor Swimming Society
Yesterday, Sat May 25th, the Bute Outdoor Swimming Society held an organised outdoor swim from Kilchattan Bay pier, to Glencallum bay, and back.
The event was attended by 9 swimmers, 4 kayakers as water support, and many shore walkers who followed along the West Island Way.
One of the aims was to swim across the path of the proposed fish farm site in that area, to show that the coast is used by many different kinds of people, and that the fish farm would either disrupt or prohibit this in the future.
To see other pictures, join the group, or find out more about swimming around Bute, you can visit the Facebook Group page below.
The Bute Outdoor Swimming Society ::
https://www.facebook.com/groups/buteoutdoorswimming/

Bute Community Council to Visit Dawnfresh
Dawnfresh has invited members of the Bute Community Council to visit them at their Loch Etive facility on June 20th, and we’ve been invited along as well.
We will be taking with us the research we’ve done fighting fish farms, and listening carefully to what they have to say in regards to their applications.
We will also be trying to get in contact with the Friends of Loch Etive, the group there that have been fighting Dawnfresh’s continual expansion of their site, dumping of equipment on their shorelines, and other effects from their farm’s operation.
The Friends of Loch Etive website::
http://lochetive.org/
Dawnfresh Coming to Bute
We now know the date! June 25th, Dawnfresh comes to Bute. They’ll be holding two ‘Drop-In’ sessions during the day for people to stop by, ask questions, and make your concerns known.
While not as good as an actual Public Meeting with a dedicated Q&A session, we’ll be writing up a shortlist of concerns and problems fish farms in general face, and the site at Hawk’s Neb in particular for you to be extra preppared when dropping in.
When :: June 25th
Where :: | |
Rothesay Library | 10am to 5pm |
Bute Museum | 6.30pm to 8.30pm |
Bute Community Council
Since we became aware of the fish farm proposals on the Clyde, we’ve been bringing it to the attention of the Bute Community Council.
We’ve kept the issue in focus since March’s meeting, and will continue to do so. The BCC is now registered as a Consultee to the process, and is organising a meeting with the fish farm company, Dawnfresh, for the public to have their say with them, soon.
The Community Council represents the island public, but needs people to attend to inform their responses. Please consider if you can make it along to the next meeting, June 19th, 7pm, at the Bute Museum, to lend your support.
The Bute Community Council website::
http://www.community-council.org.uk/bute/
Clyde Marine Planning Consultation
The Clyde Marine Planning Partnership consultation that has been visiting towns and cities around the Clyde Marine Region, and the deadline for responses to it’s Draft are due in tomorrow.
We’re getting notes together tonight to send out tomorrow, with a view on commenting on the plan in respect to environmental protection and aquaculture.
A reminder of the Draft plan location:
https://www.clydemarineplan.scot/marine-planning/consultations/
Update – Hawk’s Neb Resource Page
I have begun getting the reference documents onto the Resource page. Currently you can find a link to the Argyll and Bute Council document system for the Screening and Scoping application.
You will also find the Consultee Responses to the application, and related documentation from the Council and other bodies that provide information that inform objections to the proposal. In the upcoming days, notes will be added under the documents highlighting important sections and points.
Update – Clyde Regional Marine Plan
A quick update to the website, we’ve added a new page to raise awareness of the Clyde Regional Marine Plan, that’s currently open to feedback from the public. Check out the page for more info on when they’re coming to Bute, how to get a hold of the documents, and how to have your say.