Oyster farm is approved for Mull

A MULL oyster farm has been approved unanimously, despite a ‘strong objection’ from the island’s community council.

The planning application, submitted by Celtic Sea Ltd based at Loch Melfort, will site 1,020 metal trestles to support mesh bags for oyster cultivation at Aird Fhada, Loch Scridain, between Pennyghael and Bunessan.

The report by Argyll and Bute Council officers, who recommended Planning Committee approval, stated: ‘The proposal represents an intention to cultivate an alternative shellfish species following the demise of the applicant’s mussel farming business, and would enable the reuse of a currently redundant shore base.’

The site, adjacent to the shore base, ‘is in the control of the applicant’ and ‘does not require any consent from the Crown Estate’, which owns the seabed.

However, Mull Community Council expressed its ‘strong objection’ on the grounds that ‘the applicant’s failed ventures in the past have led to abandoned equipment being left around other sites they have occupied on Mull, and that it has taken effort on the part of the community council and the Crown Estate (who have revoked leases) to address this.

‘This application appears to be a back door approach to avoiding the Crown Estate.

‘An alternative venture is being devised by a community group which the community council would support.’

However, the planners’ report concluded that the shellfish farm would not detract significantly from the character or amenity of its surroundings, and exploiting shellfish growing waters was supported by national policy to boost the rural economy. A condition was set that no development would start until all the redundant former mussel farming equipment was removed.