Fishing group drops court action

Fish farms are being blamed for the spread of lice

Fishing pressure groups have dropped a court action aimed at protecting wild stocks from problems said to stem from fish farms.

The action, brought one-year-ago by the Sea Trout Group, was discontinued amid fears it could interfere with a Scottish Parliament inquiry.

The group had been expecting a judicial review at the Court of Session next month, but now says a lot has happened since its action began.

Formed by the Scottish Anglers, Salmon and Trout Associations, the group said it was a difficult decision to discontinue the case.

Lice burrow into the salmon's skin

But it took the step after recent moves by the Scottish Executive to tackle the serious sea lice problems facing the salmon farming industry.

The anglers had alleged sea lice from the farms were destroying wild stocks on Scotland's west coast.

The group said it was now widely accepted that sea lice were a problem.

It now wants to co-operate with moves to solve the problem and fears the judicial review could interfere with an inquiry into salmon farming recently announced by two committees of the Scottish Parliament.