Organic Sea Harvest appeals Skye planning decision

INDEPENDENT salmon farmer Organic Sea Harvest has formally appealed against a local authority planning decision over a proposed new farm site off the coast of Skye.

OSH has applied for permission for a new site in Balmaqueen, Skye, to add to the two that it already operates on the island.Although officers had recommended approval, the Highland Council North Planning Committee turned down the proposal at a meeting on 26 January, by eight votes to six.

The reason given for refusal was that a fish farm would be visually detrimental for north-east Skye’s coastline, which is widely seen as an area of unspoiled beauty and a major tourist attraction.

OSH argues that the farm’s limited impact would be greatly outweighed by the economic benefits the farm would bring to the community, including the direct creation of nine full-time jobs and investment totalling £4m.

The committee’s decision has also been condemned by Stewart Graham, Group Managing Director of aquaculture sector supplier Gael Force, who said that jobs would also be lost in his own company as a result of the farm not going ahead.

The appeal will be decided by a planning appeals reporter appointed by the Scottish Government.The timescale for the appeal process has not yet been confirmed.

A previous appeal by OSH, over refusal for a previous proposal for a farm at Flodigarry, also on Skye, was turned down in January.

OSH CEO, Ove Thu, said:“We are committed to supporting the community in north-east Skye and investing in the fragile local economy.We believe aquaculture will help to support the diversification of Skye’s economy, which relies strongly on tourism, and has struggled greatly during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“There is absolutely no evidence to suggest a salmon farm would deter visitors. We believe tourism and aquaculture can work hand-in-hand to bolster the local economy.”