A subsidiary of Mowi Scotland, a multinational headquartered in Norway, wants to have an industrial feeding system at an existing salmon farm on Loch Broom, which is near Ullapool in the northwest of Scotland. The plan – if agreed by Highland Council – would see a large vessel called a feed barge allowed onto the loch to feed thousands of salmon at the Corry fish farm. READ MORE: Experts react as candidates 'parachuted' into constituencies they know nothing about But dozens of locals have objected to the planning application by Wester Ross Fisheries, the Mowi subsidiary, arguing that a feed barge will result in noise and environmental pollution at the stunning beauty spot.
Loch Broom residents also claim they were initially told there were no plans for a barge, and The Ferret has seen footage of a public meeting in Ullapool when the firm admitted there had been, but added, “We weren’t actually obliged to tell you”. Wester Ross Fisheries also told the meeting it did not think anyone had lied and there may have been “crossed wires or miscommunication” over its plans. Loch Broom is part of the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area (MPA), which was designated in 2014 to protect fragile seabed habitats and species like maerl – a pink seaweed – and flame shell beds.
Maerl and flame shell beds are vital to the health of the local marine ecosystem, and they support local fisheries such as scallops, cod and herring. The Corry fish farm – founded in 1977 by Wester Ross .
