Richard Lochhead is Cabinet secretary for rural affairs and environment in the Scottish Government. That means part of his portfolio is to protect the Scottish marine environment. Why then does he continually go out of his way to promote the expansion of salmon farming (your report, 12 November)?
These floating factory fish farms are a blight on our environment and cause pollution of the seabed, infestations of sea lice on the migratory routes of sea trout and wild salmon plus the deliberate killing of seals.
Lochhead would be better employed encouraging the people of Japan to come and visit Scotland to enjoy our coastal lochs and see our fantastic wildlife instead of sacrificing our natural heritage to sell them factory farmed fish.
John F Robins
Animal Concern Advice Line