Many are against while others have come out in favour
A conservation group has controversially welcomed the Scottish Government’s decision in favour of a fish farm in Loch Long.
Thousands of locals as well as environmental groups opposed the farm’s planning appeal, saying it would devastate biodiversity and marine life.
However the chairman of the long established Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, said the decision was a “victory for common sense,” which will bring “much needed investment and job opportunities to fragile rural communities around Loch Long.”
Ministers gave the go-ahead for the new type of salmon farm this week, overturning a previous planning decision.
The farm will place salmon within a membrane, using water which is pumped from some distance away, to reduce the risk of sea lice and of escapes.
While Heather Reid, convener of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, said such an industrial-scale farm was not suitable for a national park, Friends of Loch Lomond said it would encourage others to invest in Scottish aquaculture.
Its chair, John Urquhart, said: “The National Park’s refusal was another example where their planners seem to have been blind to the message that conservation of natural capital costs money and one of the best ways to help deliver it is by working in partnership with the businesses which need that natural capital looked after for their long-term success.
He added: “The minister will soon deliver his decision on Flamingoland’s Lomond Banks application which also became the focus for much ill-informed and emotive hype, irresponsibly led by the Green Party’s Ross Greer, who should know better.
“There are many serious environmental issues which that party should rightly be highlighting, but neither of these proposals were ever one of them. Both offer excellent conservation outcomes with minimum environmental cost.
“Let’s hope the minister gets that and let’s hope that in future the National Park looks more towards applying its own stated policies on partnership.”
Aff the Clyde, which represents locals campaigning against proposed fish farms around Loch Long and the wider Firth of Clyde area, said the decision was "very disappointing".
A spokesperson added: "It's taken almost two years for the Scottish government to come to a decision which ignores the views of planning professionals, environmental experts, the independent planning reporter and the Loch Long communities affected by this untrialled technology."
