Controversy Surrounding Cold Water’s Appeal for Salmon Farm: Environmental Concerns and Public Backlash

2023-08-06 17:45:00

On June 9, the company Cold Water lodged an appeal once morest the decision of the Commune de Baelen to refuse its request for a permit for test drilling for the operation of a salmon farm in the East Belgian Park. The ball is now in the camp of the Walloon Region. Opponents of the project, brought together via a petition (which collected more than 5,000 signatures) and a collective called “Hot Water”, took the lead. They sent a letter to the Minister of the Environment, Céline Tellier, through their lawyers. “Even if it is only an application for an environmental permit for test drilling, my clients are asking the Ecologist Minister of the Environment to whistle the end of recess in this project which is a pilot fish (a lost salmon no doubt) announcing other similar files promoted by international high finance”, states this letter presented at a press conference on August 4.

She then recalls their fears regarding the quantities of water pumped and the weakening of the stability of the ground on the surface. “Such development is not the sustainable and careful development in the preservation of our common resources that we should expect. […] It is a priority to safeguard our water resources for the population and our farmers. On the other hand, a high level of the water table allows an optimal development of the forests and the vegetation in general” The missive concludes by warning: “In any case, your political decision is awaited and will obviously be mediated. Your decree proposals on the parsimonious use of our Walloon waters give hope that this request will be accepted.”

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