Scottish Ministers have prompted further outrage among environmentalists and a local community after approving a marine fish farm in a sensitive natural environment.
The farm below Beinn Reithe, Loch Long, was backed despite Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority opposing the plan almost three years ago.
Loch Long Salmon wants to build a farm capable of holding a maximum allowable biomass of 3,452 tonnes of Atlantic salmon in semi-closed circular cages at the site. Each of the four enclosures would have an outer diameter of 50 metres.
The decision follows the row over plans by Flamingoland to build a leisure scheme on Loch Lomond.
Commenting on the fish farm decision, Heather Reid, convener of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority, said: “The National Park Authority Board refused this planning application on 31 October 2022, concluding that a National Park was not the appropriate location for a fish farming development of such industrial scale.
“Board members cited the significant landscape, seascape and visual issues of the proposed development and that the risk of an escape of farmed fish could impact on the fragile wild salmon population.
“We continue to stand by those reasons for refusal and note that the Scottish Government appointed Reporter also recommended to Ministers that the appeal should be dismissed on some of these grounds.
“We are disappointed by the news that this appeal has been allowed, however the right of appeal is an important part of the planning process, and we respect that process despite the outcome in this case.”
Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess described the decision as a “devastating day for local nature and a betrayal of local people.”
The Scottish Greens have supported the campaign to stop the development, which has gained strong backing from local residents, environmental groups and more than 4,700 signatures.
Only two miles from Loch Lomond, at the heart of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, Loch Long is an iconic landscape. It’s home to seals, otters and seabirds, as well as linking with the Endrick Water Special Area of Conservation, which hosts a fragile population of endangered Atlantic Salmon.
“The National Park and the planning reporter both looked at the facts and listened to the community before rejecting these controversial plans. The Government should have done the same,” said Ms Burgess.
“We saw the same cavalier approach taken in their decision to back the widely opposed Flamingo Land development. What does the SNP have against our natural environment?
“Loch Long is a special place. This development will damage the landscape, disturb wildlife, and change the character of the area forever. At present there is no salmon farming on Loch Long, and we should keep it that way.”
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