Proposal for Little Lochbroom aquaculture farm in the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
INITIAL proposals for a new shellfish aquaculture farm in the southern bank of Little Lochbroom, near Dundonnell and Badcaul, will not require an environmental impact assessment report, Highland Council has determined.
An application submitted Dr Matthew Johnston of The Oyster Restoration Company to the Highland Council, sets out proposals for which business management consultant Intertek Energy and Water is acting as an agent.
The location of the proposed development will be "located west of Badluarach just off the A832".
The proposed shellfish development will farm native flat oysters, supplied by The Oyster Restoration Company hatchery just over 20 miles away in Loch Ewe. The Loch Ewe hatchery only grows native flat oysters and therefore the applicant believes that the oysters provided will be disease-free.
The proposed farm would be constructed in three phases over three years. It is said that the farm would boost economic benefit of the area, with the employment of local labour and contractors, as well as new part-time and full-time jobs.
The application makes the case that the farm would be unobtrusive due to being dark in colour and the lines will be covered by water continuously. However, it does acknowledge that there may be a "noticeable change in view" from the A832.
It is acknowledged in the application how waste may impact the habitat of species living in Little Lochbroom. It states that potential to impact the habitats in the lowest part of the loch within the farmed area through: shell debris from oysters, redundant or storm damaged equipment, oyster baskets, ropes, anchors and "other material from the development". Should the application be approved, solutions to these issues will have to be set out in a waste management plan prior to the start of the development.
Due to being in the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area, it states special consideration will be included to reduce impact on maerl and flame shell beds and northern feather stars which are highly sensitive to physical disturbances from mobile gear. There are also concerns that shell debris may smother or damage biogenic beds or northern feather stars, however the applicant believes: "The area of the water which will be affected by this development is quite small in the context of the loch as a whole."
A Highland Council spokesperson confirmed the purpose of the application and what decisions have been made: "The purpose of this is to establish whether or not the planning application needs to be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report under the EIA Regulations.
"A decision has been taken that Environmental Impact Assessment is NOT required for the development."
