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Fish farm giant Mowi to appeal rejection by Highland Council planning committee of their Loch Hourn expansion plan


By Neil MacPhail



Mowi's farm on Loch Hourn.
Mowi's farm on Loch Hourn.

VICTORIOUS campaigners against plans by fish farm giant Mowi to expand its salmon farm operation in wild and scenic Loch Hourn have been dealt a blow with news that the planning rejection is to be appealed.

Mowi Scotland Ltd said this week that should the appeal be successful it would grant permission for an additional fish pen to be installed and increase the farm's production capacity by 10%.

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Stephen MacIntyre, head of environment at Mowi Scotland said: “After careful consideration we have concluded there are strong evidence-based grounds to contest the reasons for refusal and, in accordance with the statutory provision, we intend to appeal against the decision.

“In this appeal we present clear evidence and information showing why we believe the decision to refuse planning permission was not consistent with development plan policy nor a proper assessment of the application and Environmental Impact Assessment Report.”

Mowi state that the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency’s (SEPA) assessment of the risk to protected species and seabed habitats posed by the application concludes that it would not pose any significant risk and have issued a varied Controlled Activities Regulations License.

The initial planning permission was recommended for approval by Highland Council planners and received no objections from statutory agencies.

The salmon farm at Loch Hourn has recently been upgraded with fewer, larger pens and currently hosts seven 160 metre circumference circular pens. The farm is currently stocked with juvenile salmon in line with the planning authority’s limitation of 2500 tonnes of production.

“As we outlined in our planning application the benefits of fewer, larger pens are evident and include reduced visual impacts, operational efficiencies, reduced fish stocking densities and improved health and welfare for our salmon,” said Mr MacIntyre. “We are pleased that we have been able to commence work to update and modernise the Loch Hourn farm as fish farming in Scotland evolves in response to developing new technology.

"Loch Hourn is the fifth Mowi fish farm to transition to new larger pens and we are seeing the benefits they bring to these locations.

“We acknowledge that the planning application resulted in a mix of positive and negative feedback from local residents about the farm that has been operating near the Arnisdale community for the past 30 years.

"Notwithstanding, we expect that development decisions that affect the livelihoods of many local families be evidence based when considering social, economic and environmental sustainability.”


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