PLANS for a salmon farm at a loch in a national park have been approved by the Scottish Government, but have been described as a “devastating day for local nature” by critics.
Ministers approved an application for an industrial salmon farm development at Loch Long, Argyll and Bute, on Tuesday, after they were called in following the rejection of the proposal by the National Park Authority in 2022.
The proposal by Loch Long Salmon (LLS) outlines plans to construct a semi-closed fish farm, in what would be a first for Scotland.
The technology would see fish housed in nets within impermeable floating enclosures, which advocates say would reduce negative impacts by limiting interactions between farmed fish and the surrounding marine environment.
However, critics argue that such semi-closed systems remain unproven at scale, and result in waste entering the natural environment, posing potential risks to ecosystems and wild fish populations.
Loch Long is 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.
Following the decision to approve the plans, Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess said she is “deeply disappointed” by the decision and that it is a “devastating day for local nature and a betrayal of local people”.
She added: “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.
“This has been hanging over people for far too long, and this will mean more upheaval that will risk the area’s renowned natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage.
“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?”
Burgess added that Loch Long is a “special place” and that development will damage the landscape, disturb wildlife, and “change the character of the area forever”.
The site identified by LLS to build the semi-closed farm in Loch Long, at Beinn Reithe south-west of Arrochar, falls within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
The park’s ruling body rejected the application in October 2022, saying it is “not the appropriate location to host development of such an industrial scale”, a stance the authority reaffirmed following the decision.
The plans were then “called in” by Scottish Government ministers in early 2023. At the time, the SNP Government said the proposed “new technology ... raises issues of national significance”.
Heather Reid, convener of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority, said the park’s ruling body still stands by its prior reasons as to why the development should be refused.
She said: “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.”
In the Government’s decision, it added that prior to planning permission being granted, LLS will be required to adhere to a substantial number of conditions that have been attached to the decision.
Reid added: “These conditions will help ensure there are the significant environmental and operational safeguards in place to mitigate – as far as possible – the impacts of the development on the nationally important landscape.
“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.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Scottish Ministers have granted planning permission for a new semi-closed system fish farm in Loch Long in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority.”
