Bakkafrost’s new Lewis farm is refused by planning authority

Bakkafrost Scotland has been consulting on the proposed farm, off the east coast of the Isle of Lewis, comprising pens, moorings and a feed barge, but last week the planning board of the local authority, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said that the company “had failed to demonstrate that the proposed development would not result in an unacceptable exclusion of commercial fishing activity from a historically important and economically productive fishing ground”.

The decision overturned a recommendation of approval for the development, subject to conditions, by planning officials.

Western Isles Fishermen’s Association (WIFA) said the development would impose the biggest ever loss to the Scottish fishing industry of prolific commercial fishing grounds that have been harvested sustainably for generations.”

WIFA said the North Gravir site “has consistently provided large volumes of prawns, scallops, and brown crab that are all landed locally, creating long-term sustainable employment opportunities both at sea and ashore at the modern MacDuff shellfish factory that has been built at Goat Island at a cost of £3 million.”

The North Gravir farm would have comprised one group of five pens, each of 200-metre circumference, arranged in one row, with a linked feed barge.