MORE than 360 industrial sites across Scotland have been officially condemned by the Scottish government’s green watchdog for failing to control pollution.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has named and shamed waste dumps, fish farms, sewage works, scrap yards and many others for breaking pollution rules with leaks, spills, smells and a host of other mishaps. Scores of companies have breached emission limits for two or three years running.

Aquaculture emerges as a major polluting industry, with 56 salmon farms around the west coast and islands rated as poor or at risk. Seabed contamination surveys for many are assessed by Sepa as “unsatisfactory”.

The Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation, which represents fish farmers, pointed out that 87% of the 415 farms assessed last year were rated excellent or good. “The seabed area used for the whole of the salmon farming sector is equal to one good-sized livestock farm,” said the organisation’s chief executive, Scott Landsburgh. “Any impacts are minute, local and temporary.”

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Sunday Herald (9th Sep 2012)