Scottish shellfish waters suffer 3,785 sewage dumps in 2 years

Following new analysis of sewage dumping sites located within protected shellfish waters which revealed that they suffered 3,785 sewage dumps in the last 2 years, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has called on the Scottish Government to start taking the sewage crisis seriously.

Liberal Democrat analysis of sewage figures showed that sewage was dumped 3,785 times in shellfish water protected areas, as designated by SEPA, and that sewage was dumped for a total of 22,936 hours.

Bay of Firth in Orkney saw sewage dumped the most frequently with sewage being dumped 1,446 times across 2024 and 2023.

Loch Fyne saw the longest duration of sewage being dumped, with sewage being dumped there for 6,260 hours across 2024 and 2023.

Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

"We already knew of the impact sewage was having on our rivers and beaches, but now we learn sewage is also being dumped in protected shellfish waters.

"Shellfish production is an important industry for Scotland and our coastal and island communities. They deserve better than having sewage dumped in waters linked to their livelihoods.

"It"s time the Scottish Government started taking the sewage crisis in Scotland more seriously, rather than just handwaving all concerns by pointing to the situation in England.

"To turn the tide on the sewage scandal, Scottish Liberal Democrats have published plans for a Clean Water Act that would bring our sewage network into the 21st century, clamp down on dumping and get to the bottom of this disgusting practice."