More info about Fish-Farm in the Höga Kusten World Heritage?
Jump now at the sections within "All about fish-farms problem"
___________________________________________________

    As a green destination, High Coast's image formed the nucleus of current international marketing communication of the area.

    In the perspective of the coming decision about the opportunity to introduce or not such fish farms, the tourism can have potential to contribute significantly to a comprehensive, cross - sectorial approach to evaluate sustainable development in Höga Kusten.

    Tourism is a potentially big business for Västernorrland. Particularly, the tourism "industry" in the Höga Kusten (and marine/coast tourism is one of its potential fastest growing sector) provides jobs and revenue to our communities.

    Västernorrland has much to offer the visitor: the county's undisputed natural qualities (fresh air, clean waters, superb coast lines...) are still big draws. Central to all this are Höga Kusten’s magnificent land and seascapes and its unique natural history, which for many visitors offer opportunities to escape from everyday urban living and see something wild and exciting. With resources like these, Höga Kusten can become a nature tourism destination second to none.

    There is a growing demand for nature holidays. The nature-based tourism extends to people of all walks of life, appealing as much to general tourists as wildlife enthusiasts, that's why wildlife tourism already has a substantial impact on High Coast’s economy.
The market for nature-based tourism is growing and is predicted to continue to grow significantly with increasing public concern over environmental issues.
Västernorrland has the potential to take a lead in the nature-based tourism field.

    There is also a worldwide growing demand for high quality and unusual places to stay in and the unique environment of Höga Kusten means much more than scenery. The environment is the key tourism asset.

    We know that most of our visitors and people living here rate the environment as the feature they like the most. However, we must develop our understanding of how people perceive Höga Kusten as a destination, including its natural and built environment, culture, its quality of service and value for money.

    Our social, economic and environmental ambitions are interlinked and we must work to deliver all three if we are going to deliver the quality of life we want for ourselves and for future generations.

Consequently, our development have to be designed and managed in careful ways to ensure long-term sustainability: it is the only realistic way to generate even greater benefits for the people and their economy. Sustainable development meets the needs of present tourists and host areas while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future.

    The environment and tourism are inextricably linked. Recognition of this fact is increasing and many key players in High Coast tourism are now committed to developing a sustainable approach to tourism.

    Not only tourism business, but also industry must exploit High Coast's strengths in a sustainable manner and support the tourism business and help to mantain the very environment that our visitors come for.

    All the people of High Coast communities have to introduce sustainable development onto the agenda, in order to bring long-term business and environmental benefits to our turism industry through encouraging sustainable use of our world-class natural heritage.
Only a managed approach can protect the basic resource and enhance High Coast’s environment.

    Nature conservation helps tourism as "it let people know we are taking care of what has been left to us".

    Moreover please note that, as a green destination, High Coast's image formed the nucleus of your international marketing communication.

FISH FARMS IMPACT

    But the presence of industrial fish farms in beautiful areas such as Ullångersfjärden and in general in the Höga Kusten disrupts the pristine wilderness that people come from around the world to see.

    The ecology of our world heritage coast is a delicately balanced system that supports recreational and commercial fisheries, a growing tourism industry, and a coastal way of life.

    Fish farms have negative consequences and impact the marine environment in several ways: loss of biomass, loss of habitat, poor water quality, introduced species, and disease.

    Marine based pollution is more evident. Open net cage fish farms permit the release of antibiotics into the water. Antibiotic resistant bacteria identified in other marine species are believed to be a result of this practice.

    It is feared that introduced species are not predominate in our coast marine environment at this time may displace already impacted indigenous populations. Furthermore, the sports fishing industry is becoming increasingly important to the communities and a lot are the investments related in the area: a loss of wild fish could seriously affect the recreational fishing industry, which represents an important portion of the High Coast coastal tourism.

    Fish farm activities can act as bio-magnifiers of otherwise background levels of parasites and diseases.

    Those in favor of fish farms argue that fish farms benefit the economy because they provide an alternative to the forestry and fishing industries. However as the industry moves to a more mechanized system, there are fewer jobs available on the farms.

    Tommaso De Rosa

   This is an extract from the opposition sent on October 18th 2006 to the Miljöprövningsdelegationen of Länsstyrelsen Västernorrland about the request of installing four fish farms, for a total of 2200 tons, in the Ullångersfjärden (Färnsviken, Värns, Mjältösundet and Öberget). Dnr: 551-13607-05, 551-13468-05, 551-13610-05, 551-13614-05.