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  • Marine Pen fish farms between 3 and 12 nautical miles

Marine Pen fish farms between 3 and 12 nautical miles

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The authorised activities are:

  • The operation of a marine pen fish farm in:

  • the discharge of fish excreta, uneaten food and other substances as listed in this permit to; and

  • the abstraction of seawater carried on in the course of operation of a fish farm from;

the Scottish marine area outside of the water environment.

These are activities taking place beyond the 3 mile limit but within the 12 nautical mile limit.

On 26th March 2026 amendments were made to The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018. This had the effect of bringing the regulation of marine pen fish farms between 3 and 12 nautical miles under EASR. We plan to regulate this activity by a permit level authorisation. We are currently consulting on this activity here. This consultation will close on 24 August 2026. 

Authorisation level

Permit

Pre-application engagement

Pre-application public engagement is required for this activity. Before submitting your application, you must engage with the community to find out the views of those likely to be affected by the proposed activity and to gather relevant information about the potential impacts of the proposed activity. You will be asked to demonstrate that you have engaged and share the feedback received as part of the permit application process.

Public consultation

We may publicly consult on applications that, due to their nature or location, have higher likelihood of environmental impact and community impact. For this activity we may publicly consult on your application.

Read more about public participation and engagement

Fit and Proper Person tests

Fit and Proper Person tests apply to this activity. You will be asked in your application if you have any relevant convictions held by you or any additional persons.

Read more about Fit and Proper Person tests

Fees and charges

An application fee applies to the application of a new authorisation for this activity.

Band Threshold/Description Fee
11a Marine pen fish farm maximum biomass </=50 tonnes £4,339.89
13a Marine pen fish farm maximum biomass >50 to <500 tonnes £7,233.49
17a Marine pen fish farm maximum biomass >/=500 to </=1,500 tonnes £33,273.85
17b Marine pen fish farm maximum biomass >1,500 tonnes £40,002.60

An annual activity fee applies to this activity.

For detailed information on application, annual activity fees, and fees related to transferring, varying, or surrendering an authorisation, please refer to our charging information.

Permit conditions

Permits may contain both standard conditions and conditions specific to the activity and location. The conditions of your permit will be decided when we assess your application. This is to ensure that the appropriate limits and controls are in place to minimise pollution and protect the environment.

If you carry out an activity under a permit authorisation you must comply with the conditions set out in your authorisation. It is an offence if you do not comply with the conditions.

SEPA will not authorise this activity if it poses an unacceptable risk to the environment.

How to apply

In this section you can find out how to apply for a new authorisation and how to apply for a variation, transfer and surrender of an existing authorisation.

New applications

You can apply for a new permit for this activity using our digital application service.

If you are applying for a new permit, we would encourage you to send a completed Pre-App-P-WAT-B1 - EASR pre-app proposal form to aquaculture.pre-app@sepa.org.uk before submitting your application.

Step 1: Download your activity form

You will need to download and complete the following activity form. The completed form will be submitted as part of your application:

Step 2: Provide supporting information

For a new permit, you will also need to provide the following supporting information:

  • Location plan
  • Non-technical summary of your application
  • Evidence of pre-application community engagement carried out
  • Pre-application proposal form (if applicable)
  • Details on what will happen to the proportion of faeces not discharged
  • Model calibration and validation data
  • Information on deposition modelling of organic solids
  • Information on nitrogen compound modelling (if required)
  • Information identifying any relevant protected species and habitats within the modelled deposition footprint of the farm
  • Information on other water users within the modelled deposition footprint of the farm
  • Details on measures to be taken on the timing of fallow periods to avoid interactions between sea lice from the farm and wild Atlantic salmon
  • Details on the enclosure of the pens (if required)
  • Information on sea lice modelling (if applicable)
  • Information on surveys to collect data for calibrating and validating sea lice dispersion modelling (if applicable)
  • Details on what will happen to the proportion of anti-sea lice medicines not discharged
  • Information on azamethiphos discharge modelling (if applicable)
  • Information on deltamethrin discharge modelling (if applicable)
  • Information on emamectin benzoate discharge modelling (if applicable)
  • Information on the fate and behaviour in the marine environment of medicines or chemicals (if applicable)
  • Information on the ecotoxicity of the medicines or chemicals (if applicable)
  • Information about any dispersion and/or dispersion modelling about the medicines or chemicals (if applicable)
  • Model calibration and validation data about the medicines or chemicals (if applicable)

Step 3: Submit using our digital application service

You can submit your completed application using our digital application service.

Make an application for a new authorisation

Varying an existing permit

You can apply to vary an existing permit for this activity.

Step 1: Download your variation form

You will need to download and complete the following variation form. The completed form will be submitted as part of your application:

If you are applying to change the pen layout of a marine pen fish farm you may also need to provide:

Step 2: Submit your application for a variation

Vary an existing authorisation

Transfer an existing permit

You can apply to transfer an existing permit for this activity.

Step 1: Download your transfer form

You will need to download and complete the following transfer form. The completed form will be submitted as part of your application:

Step 2: Submit your application

Read Transfer an existing authorisation to find out how to submit your application for a transfer

Surrender an existing permit

To apply to surrender an existing permit that authorises this activity, read Surrender an existing authorisation

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