Fort William sheriff court heard that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency received a complaint in March 2004 about a red discharge coming from Marine Harvest's premises on Blar Mhor industrial estate. An investigation revealed that there had been a spillage of fish waste caused by a blockage in the production process. An employee had hosed the waste into the surface water drain which leads into the river.
SEPA said the incident resulted in a "serious deterioration" of water quality in the river.