AN exclusion zone has been set up around a sunken barge in a salmon farm after it started releasing potentially toxic gasses.
The 500m radius around the sunken vessel, which was carrying fish food, near Portree Harbour in Skye was set up amid reports of the smell of rotten eggs at the site.
The boat was in use by Faroese firm Bakkafrost when it sank in November 2021 during Storm Arwen.
The firm said hydrogen sulphide, a gas known for smelling like rotten eggs, had been detected at the site.
It said this was a consequence of the barge’s submerged cargo degrading in the water.
READ MORE: Insight into whales in Scotland after project records soundscapes for one year
Police say multi-agency discussions have looked into safely recovering the vessel.
Inspector Ross McCartney, of Portree Police Station, said: “We are aware of a leak of gas from a sunken vessel off Portree Harbour.
"Multi-agency discussions have taken place and plans are ongoing to safely recover the vessel.
“There is not considered to be any risk to the public as a result of the leak at this time.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said: “On November 27 2021, Spea was informed by The Scottish Salmon Company that the feed barge for their Loch Portree sites had sunk the previous day during a storm.
“A multi-agency group was set up in response involving Sepa, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Marine Scotland, Highland Council, and other organisations.
“Fuel and oil from the barge were safely removed by December 2021 and pose no further risk to the local water environment.”
READ MORE: First Scotland-China cargo ship link starts with 1 million bottles of whisky
The Sepa spokesperson said the organisation will continue to work with its partners to ensure the waste feed within the barge is recovered or disposed of "in accordance with waste management legislation".
Bakkafrost said as part of the salvage operation gas would be vented to reduce any potential risks to the public.
It said: “All relevant authorities are being kept informed of progress on the recovery operation and we will continue to work together with experts to ensure a safe conclusion to the operation.
“Bakkafrost is fully committed to ensuring public safety in relation to all of its operations, vessels and equipment and we are addressing the removal of any gas as a priority.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here