"Stocked Trout" - Japanese Want to Farm Fish in Cages in the Gulf of Riga 0 8

Residents of the Kurzeme coast do not support this idea. Developers promise to use international experience and claim that the impact on the environment will be minimal and controlled, reports the TV3 program "Nothing Personal".

The Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea resembles a closed lake - water exchange here occurs very slowly. Therefore, the intention to create sea trout farms off the coasts of Roja and Mersrags has caused outrage among local residents and environmental organizations. Entrepreneurs plan to install old nets in the waters of Latvia, which Denmark is rejecting. The project in Latvia is promoted by "Riga Bay Aquaculture" - a company specially created for these purposes, which includes the Latvian caviar producer "Sudrablīnis Holdings".

The partner is the Danish aquaculture company "Musholm", owned by the Japanese food group "Okamura Foods", which is expanding its activities in global markets, primarily in Asia, including the China-controlled Hong Kong. This means that fish farmed in the Gulf of Riga will likely be intended for export. Project executors deny that it poses a threat to the environment. According to them, Danish experience shows that pollution risks are minimal.

Entrepreneurs insist that by April, one of the cages for trout farming should be placed in the sea, which will allow checking whether the pollution it causes is critical for the ecosystem. The project reached the Cabinet of Ministers during the tenure of Minister of Agriculture Didzis Šmits. Initially, areas where farms could be located were identified, then a competition was announced, which was won by Danish entrepreneurs. Šmits rejects claims of lobbying for the interests of a specific company.

The issue of fish farms is being discussed both in the government and in the Saeima commission. Deputies heard from representatives of institutions, scientists, and public organizations who criticized the idea. The commission calls on ministers to exercise caution, and the Saeima has not yet made a decision either to permit or prohibit the placement of cages. In the Cabinet, the issue is also at the stage of coordination and political assessment. The final decision will depend on the results of the environmental impact assessment currently being conducted by the State Environmental Service. The plan for the first phase of work was supposed to be ready by December 10, but the process has been delayed. The main sticking point remains the entrepreneurs' intention to place a test cage. Several environmental organizations emphasize that this contradicts existing standards.