Loch Long Salmon is appealing a decision rejecting a new semi-closed containment farm at Beinn Reithe near Arrochar, Scotland, arguing that the plans have been ‘misunderstood’.
Loch Long Salmon says that the board of Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park rejected the application in October 2022 because of the – unfounded – belief that the farm would operate like an open net salmon farm.
From the surface a semi-closed containment site looks like a traditional salmon farm but the net is in fact surrounded by an impermeable membrane, removing the threat of sea lice and attacks by seals.
“The National Park has no experience of handling this kind of application and, rather than listening to experts such as NatureScot, SEPA and Forestry & Land Scotland, who all said the project could go ahead, they based their view on a misunderstanding that our plans were the same as existing open net salmon farms,” said Stewart Hawthorn, managing director of Loch Long Salmon.
The company cites support by conservation groups and local and national authorities, arguing that it will bring highly skilled jobs to the area and contribute to the circular economy. The Scottish government has said that it believes the project is of ‘national significance’.
Loch Long Salmon argues that the National Park Board has failed to consider the opinions of SEPA, Forestry and Land Scotland, NatureScot and the Arrochar Community Council who all believe the project can proceed.
“We carefully sited and designed the farm with the full collaboration of the park’s planning team and, as a result, the farm can’t even be seen from more than 99% of the park,” said Stewart Hawthorn.
“Officers also used concerns regarding theoretical impacts on a special area of conservation more than 55km away from the development in justifying the decision to refuse the application,” he added.
