Upset residents by Loch Ness call for removal of fish farm from unauthorised location where it is spoiling world-famous view
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Furious residents in a community by Loch Ness are demanding the immediate removal of a fish farm after it was relocated to a new site without planning permission – and is now a blot on a world-famous view.
The fish farm, owned by Mowi, was recently relocated 220m to make way for the construction of the £550 million Red John pumped storage hydro scheme which was given the green light by the Scottish Government last month.
But residents in Dores say it spoils the view for locals and tourists, while Dores and Essich Community Council is calling for action from Highland Council which acknowledged the new site breaches planning permission.
Community councillor Duncan Manson said: "A lot of people in the village are very upset about it.
"A lot of people have been coming up to me really concerned – I am concerned about it as well.
"If you look back through previous planning applications, it seems to be that they are now outwith the boundaries they are supposed to be in."
He said when the farm – which included cages used for smolts, or young salmon – was moved to its new site a few weeks ago, there was surprise among locals who thought it would be temporary.
But as time had gone on, people had become increasingly upset.
As well as spoiling the view, Mr Manson said the area had become used increasingly for recreation such as wild swimming, paddleboarding and kayaking.
"There has been some communication between the community and Mowi and they have not been very helpful at the moment," he said.
Fellow community councillor John Martin called on Highland Council to issue an enforcement notice immediately.
"We are about to see one of the biggest energy developments in the Highlands," he said.
"This sets a very bad precedent for potential disputes with developers.
"f a dispute arises, we want to know Highland Council is on our side, as it should be."
Those calling for the fish farm to be moved include veteran Nessie hunter Steve Feltham who holds the world record for the longest Nessie 'vigil' – Sunday marks his 30th anniversary of watching the water from a converted mobile library at Dores beach.
Mr Feltham said in its previous location, the fish farm blurred into the shoreline but was now in plain sight.
In 2017, the loch view from Dores was voted sixth best view in Britain in a poll by Samsung.
"It is a world-class view," Mr Feltham said. "Tourists come from all over the world to see it and take photographs."
He said villagers were "incensed" by the move.
A spokesman for Mowi said: "A local hydro expansion project approached our company to request that we move our fish pens that sit within the planned construction zone.
"While not wanting to move our pens that have been in place for 30 years, Mowi wishes to support renewable power projects that benefit the local community and has co-operated with the proponent, Red John Hydro, throughout its successful planning permission process.
"Mowi will continue to work with the proponent and Dores community to ensure the final positioning of the fish pens is satisfactory to the community and for our salmon."
A spokesman for Highland Council said the fish farm moved without planning permission.
"We are working with the operator, Mowi, to address this breach of planning control," he said.
The Red John hydro scheme was given the go-ahead by Scottish ministers following a public local inquiry after Highland Council strongly objected to the plans by developer ILI Group, citing the visual impact on the loch and Great Glen during the construction phase.
Dores and Essich Community Council also objected, highlighting concerns about disruption during construction.
Related story: Red John hydro scheme given go-ahead
