Connors Seafoods Ltd was recently found guilty of discharging fish effluent form their Boddam Factory in contravention of their discharge consent conditions and was fined £3000 at Peterhead Sheriff Court on 10 August 2000. The company pled guilty under section 30F(3) of the Control of Pollution Act 1974. The prosecution was the result of a report submitted to the Procurator Fiscal by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).


Connors Seafoods Ltd is a white fish processor based in Boddam, just outside Peterhead. The company has had a poor record of compliance over recent years and has already been charged for a similar offence in November 1998 when they were also fined. On 11 November 1999 the discharge was 13 times over the SEPA consent conditions.

Mike Duckett, SEPA Team Leader for the Fraserburgh area said:
"Connors Seafoods have a long history of consent failure but despite repeated assurances from senior management they have failed to implement any measures to improve the quality of their effluent.
The substantial fine imposed by the Peterhead Sheriff reflects this wholly unsatisfactory situation and is the second such conviction for the company in recent years.

"Whilst it is hoped they will now put their house in order, SEPA will nevertheless continue to report further breaches of environmental legislation to the Procurator Fiscal, until such time as full compliance with Connors' statutory obligations is assured.''

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) was established under the Environment Act 1995.
Its main duty is to protect the environment by controlling pollution to land, air and water in Scotland.