Columbi Salmon, a Norwegian company, has been given permission to build Europe's largest salmon farm in the seaside resort of Ostend. Flemish environment minister Zuhal Demir (nationalist) has awarded the company an environmental permit. Provincial authorities earlier OKed the plan, but several environmental and animal rights activists have lodged objections.
Norwegian company Columbi Salmon wants to farm 12,000 tonnes of salmon a year in Ostend's inner harbour but plans for the largest salmon farm in Europe have sparked controversy. Several environmental and animal rights organisations are unhappy with the plans and filed objections: Climaxi, Bond Beter Leefmilieu, Greenpeace Belgium, Natuurpunt, WWF Belgium, the West Flanders Environmental Federation, Animal Rights and GAIA. The list of disgruntled organisations is long. They fear that the salmon will not be able to move around in the cages and will be at high risk of falling ill. They also worry about the environmental impact of the farm and openly questioned whether a business like this belongs in the port.
"Yes," answers Flemish environment minister Zuhal Demir (nationalist/N-VA). "In Flanders, the welfare of salmon is not a criterion we can take into account in environmental permits. Furthermore, the application complies with urban planning regulations, as the company will be located in a regional business park in the port."
The city council and the Port of Ostend welcome the approval of the plan. "The company meets all applicable standards," says Dirk Declerck, CEO of the port. "They even go a lot further in a number of areas. In terms of the environment and animal welfare, they are pursuing the highest possible standards. The farm involves an investment of 450 million euros. That will yield 200 jobs."
Animal rights organisation GAIA maintains its opposition to the licence. "Anyone who produces 1,000 tonnes a year must prepare an environmental impact report, but the Norwegian company has not had to do so," says GAIA's Michel Vandenbosch. "God knows why. And then there is the animal welfare aspect. 36 salmon are crammed into a cubic metre. There’s no question of swimming."