LocLochh HourHournn Aquaculture Framework Plan September 2001 Produced by The Planning and Development Service, The Highland Council Foreword Fish Farming Framework Plans were introduced by Highland Council in the late 1980’s as a key part of its development and control strategy for aquaculture. Their purpose is to guide aquaculture development to appropriate locations and to help minimise conflicts of interest. This updated plan for Loch Hourn replaces the version prepared in July 1989 and is one of a second generation of plans designed for the current decade. Like its predecessor, the plan’s status is advisory rather than statutory. However, the Crown Estate’s planning role is in the process of being transferred to local authorities. Marine aquaculture installations are therefore likely to come within the scope of statutory planning control during the anticipated lifetime of this plan. Another key change is that the EU’s Environmental Assessment regulations, updated in March 1999, now embrace aquaculture developments to a much greater extent than before. The plan can help guide prospective developers who are required to submit EA’s as to the specific issues which their EA’s should address. Although at the time of writing shellfish farming was exempt from EA regulations, it may come within the scope of the legislation within the lifetime of the plan. Various improvements on the framework plan format have been introduced with this second series. The visual presentation has been upgraded to include a coloured policy map, more diagrams, and photographs. More information on the area below low water mark has been included where it has been available, e.g. on the hydrography and marine nature conservation interest. There is also more attention to the issues associated with shellfish farming and alternative finfish species together with references to other uses and potential developments in the coastal zone. As the drive towards sustainable use of inshore waters gathers momentum, aquaculture framework plans should be seen as one component of an increasingly comprehensive and integrated coastal planning system. This system will ultimately also embrace area access agreements for inshore fishing and seabed harvesting, management plans for marine nature reserves, the coastal policy elements of Local Plans and Structure Plans, and coastal zone management (CZM) strategies at sub-regional level and above. This document has been prepared after consultation with a wide range of interests (see Appendix 3). A full report on the consultation exercise was also prepared, copies of which can be obtained from the Planning and Development Service. The Framework Plan now supplements the statutory guidance for the terrestial area contained in the Highland Structure Plan and the Skye and Lochalsh Local Plan. Collectively these form the policy background against which the Council will assess all aquaculture proposals in Loch Hourn. To help ensure that The Framework Plan remains responsive to changing circumstances the Council will monitor the Plan’s progress and update it as necessary. Sandy Park John Rennilson Chairman Director of Planning & Development Planning, Development, Europe and Tourism Committee The Highland Council The Highland Council Loch Hourn Aquaculture Framework Plan Contents Page Foreword Introduction Location 1 Planning Policy Background 1 Objectives 2 Features Topographic setting 2 Settlements 2 Hydrography 3 Scale of Aquaculture Development and Potential Historical Development 3 Present level of Development 4 Future Prospects for Aquaculture Development 4 Development Issues and Planning Constraints Economic Development 5 Navigation 6 Water Quality 6 Infrastructure 7 Inshore Fishing 8 Landscape and visual amenity 8 Nature Conservation 9 Recreation 10 Archaeology 11 Game Fisheries 11 Strategy and Area Policies 12 Appendices 1: Extant leases 19 2: Bibliography 20 3: National Planning Policy for Aquaculture 21 4: Organisations consulted during plan preparation 24 Loch Hourn Aquaculture Framework Plan Introduction ➀ Planning Policy Background ➀ Location 4. The 1999 national planning guidance for the location of marine fish farms lists Loch Hourn as a 1. Loch Hourn is one of the largest sea lochs on the Category 2 loch. This means that any proposals for mainland west coast and is located in one of new fish farm sites here, or significant modifications Scotland’s most important wild landscape areas. It is at existing sites, will require an environmental impact one of the few remaining sea lochs which is unroaded assessment. At the time of writing a ‘significant for the majority of its length and it is widely regarded modification’ is taken to mean any single or as the best example of a fjord on the UK coast. cumulative increase of 25% or more in biomass or equipment which would result in a development 2. Both finfish and shellfish farming take place in the holding a biomass of 250 tonnes or more, or a cage outer loch and aquaculture represents a significant area of more than 2000 square metres. The guidance source of employment and income for the small also indicates that the prospects for further resident community here. The number of sites which development in Category 2 areas are likely to be are available for aquaculture development are limited limited. There may, however, be the potential for however, either by physical factors or by the range of modification of existing operations or limited other interests which have to be taken into account. A expansion of existing sites if this will result in an framework of planning policies is necessary to guide overall reduction in environmental effect and enhance developers whilst safeguarding the unique character of the quality of the area and its hydrological conditions. the loch and its surrounding area. A summary of the provisions of the national planning guidance is contained in appendix 3. 3. In addition, Loch Hourn spans two of Highland Council’s administrative areas - the former Districts of Skye & Lochalsh and Lochaber - so is represented in 5. The national planning guidance also recommends two Local Plans. The Aquaculture Framework Plan that local authorities produce framework plans for provides additional information in relation to coastal waters within their areas. Highland Regional aquaculture development within the context of these Council first published a Fish Farming Framework Local Plans. Plan for Loch Hourn in July 1989 at a time when several leases for finfish and shellfish farm sites had been granted in the inner loch. In the subsequent eleven year period, changes in the technology and economics of finfish farming, together with fish Figure 1: Location of Framework Plan Area health problems experienced in the inner loch, have meant that such developments are now limited to the wider, more open and better-flushed outer loch. Durness Thurso Shellfish farms, although present in the outer loch, are technically better suited to the more sheltered nature of the middle and inner reaches of the loch. Lochinver Ullapool Inverness Kyle of Lochalsh N Not to Scale Loch Hourn Aquaculture Framework Plan Page 1 Figure 2: Boundary of Framework Plan area showing line of hydrographic profile used in Fig.3 6. The northern boundary of this plan is the same as FEATURES that used in the 1989 document. The southern FEATURES boundary has been extended slightly to encompass the northernmost tip of Airor island (See Fig 2). This ➀ Topographic Setting change has been made to provide strategic guidance for this extended, sensitive stretch of coastline and to 8. Forming the northern boundary of the remote allow for contiguous coverage with the Loch Nevis Knoydart peninsula, Loch Hourn represents one of framework plan. the deepest natural incisions in the mainland coast of Scotland. However its mouth has a degree of shelter from the landmass of the Isle of Skye. The setting of Objectives the loch is characterised by high, steep and rugged slopes which drop to sea level with, for the most part, 7. The objectives of the framework plan for Loch only a minimal coastal fringe. Throughout the area Hourn are: there is considerable evidence of past glaciation which has shaped the metamorphic bedrock into the to identify opportunities for aquaculture landforms seen today. development compatible with other interests. 9. Like Loch Nevis on the south side of the to raise public awareness of the multi-faceted Knoydart peninsula, Loch Hourn has two distinct resources of Loch Hourn and its environs. dog-legs which tend to separate it into three main zones – an outer, middle, and inner section. The outer to safeguard the landscape and natural heritage loch is open to the west and somewhat exposed, the interests of the loch. middle section is still quite broad but relatively sheltered, while the innermost section is sheltered but to identify investment priorities for infrastructure relatively narrow. to support the development of aquaculture and to maximise the general economic and 10. The dramatic scenery and sense of remoteness in recreational value of the loch. the unroaded, middle and inner sections of the loch attracts many visitors to the area on foot. However, on close inspection there is considerable evidence of past habitation, through the presence along the length of the inner loch of ruined cottages, drystone dykes and numerous hillside lazy beds. The handful of small Page 2 Loch Hourn Aquaculture Framework Plan estate cottages scattered along the shores of the inner decreasing clearance over the sills as one approaches loch, now only used as holiday accommodation, are Kinloch Hourn. The bathymetry of the loch is shown more obvious remnants of the past habitation of the in long profile in figure 3 below. area. 14. The presence of deep basins within Loch Hourn ➀ Settlements and the shallow nature of the four inner sills means that water movement is restricted, resulting in an 11. The main settlement in the vicinity of the extremely long flushing time of 11 days. Water framework plan area is Glenelg, with smaller exchange is, therefore somewhat limited and there is settlements at Arnisdale, Corran and Kinloch Hourn.