Noise fears over Wester Ross fish farm barge plan
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Loch Broom residents have voiced concern over plans to add an automated “feed barge” to the Corry fish farm, with fears that noise created by the floating machine could affect up to 50 nearby households.
The fish farm is operated by Wester Ross Fisheries, a subsidiary of multinational firm MOWI.
The new proposals would see a specialist barge added to the fish farm. It will be connected to a series of pipes and used to distribute feed to the fish pens automatically, replacing the need for workers to do all the feeding work by hand.
Ailsa McLellan, a marine science expert who lives nearby, has already submitted an objection to council planners over the proposal.
In her objection she says she has audited “dozens” of fish farms on the west coast of Scotland and that she has not seen any that are as close to people’s homes where automated feed barges are in use. She says noise studies undertaken by the firm in the area were inadequate and estimates there are around 20 houses within 500m of the proposed barge.
She says: “This application would mean a huge change in operations at the Corry site, and have a significant noise impact on a number of houses in what should be a quiet, rural area.
“The applicant claims to have carried out a sound ‘study’ but this was merely a MOWI employee taking three measurements at one site with a shore based feed station, it does not help us understand the impact of decibels or frequency on properties adjacent to the proposed feed barge.”
Ms McLellan said she knew of at least 10 local households who have expressed concerns about the noise, adding, “some people don’t want to say anything because it’s a small community.”
Two other local households have already called on councillors to block the proposals. In their formal objections to the proposals, both cite noise concerns.
It is also claimed staff from the firm had reassured local residents that they did not plan to install a feed barge as recently as this summer, when noise complaints were raised with the firm and upgrades to the farm were discussed.
The subsequent planning application shows that the “the word of Wester Ross Fisheries staff means nothing, they’re just so disingenuous,” McLellan said.
MSP Arianne Burgess, MSP for the area, said that the fish farm at Corry had long been controversial and said “honest engagement” was needed.
“It’s clear that there has been a breach of trust, with concerns about noise and the local environment,” she said.
“There must be meaningful dialogue and honest engagement ahead of any future changes,” she said. “If local communities were told that there would not be a feed barge then it’s not right for the applicant to try to add one at this stage.”
A spokesperson for Wester Ross Fisheries insisted that the proposed barge would reduce disturbance to local residents, rather than add to it. They said the firm “has engaged with local residents before and during this planning application, including holding a drop-in session and inviting interested parties out to its seawater farms to look at an automated salmon feeding system.
“The company is not seeking to replace hand feeding at Corry, but to provide mechanical assistance in order to reduce the physical strain on staff. The feeding barge for Corry is being designed to minimise noise and light disturbance to local residents.
“The frequency of feed deliveries by road and by sea will be dramatically reduced through the use of a centralised feeding system, and consequently a reduction in disturbance to local residents. Wester Ross values the community in which it operates, and where its staff live, and has a long-established reputation for supporting community initiatives and engaging with local residents.” The Wester Ross Fisheries planning application can be found is on the Highland Council planning portal by searching for ref 23/04307/FUL. Members of the public can submit comments on the proposals until October 19.
