WildFish objects to proposed salmon farm on the River Avon.
Campaign group WildFish has filed an objection to plans for a small-scale salmon farm on the banks of the River Avon in southern England.
The application, lodged by Cold Water Salmon, seeks to convert part of a former trout farm into a 0.72-hectare facility. Planning documents provide few specifics, with no tonnage figures or detailed assessments of drainage, water abstraction, or discharge.
WildFish has criticised the lack of documentation and warned of risks to the river’s status as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The group, formerly known as Salmon & Trout Conservation, has long campaigned against salmon aquaculture. It is backed by renewable energy entrepreneur Dale Vince, who has extended his involvement from green energy into food and farming campaigns.
WildFish routinely opposes aquaculture projects, including closed-containment and small-scale proposals, arguing that they pose unacceptable risks to wild fish populations. Industry figures have frequently questioned the group’s claims, which are often seen as part of a broader campaign against commercial salmon farming.
Local authorities are expected to consider the Avon application in the coming months.
