Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning 2000
Commendation for development planning
20. LOCH ERIBOLL AQUACULTURE FRAMEWORK PLAN
nominated in 2000 by Highland Council Planning & Development Service.
The Loch Eriboll Aquaculture Framework Plan was prepared by a small team from the Highland Council's Planning and Development Service, and involved consultation with the local community, commercial and recreational users of the loch. Highland Council's Aquaculture Framework Plans represent an innovative approach to the issue of conflicting pressures for the use of inshore waters. Thus far, they are unique in the UK but they have attracted international interest. The work shows how the development plan approach can be applied in a simple, understandable way to the area below the low water mark. The plan's policies strike a balance between the need for sustainable economic development and safeguard of the natural heritage interest. This plan implements at a local level the national policy guidelines on aquaculture and the Highland Structure Plan's sustainability objectives. It identifies specific development opportunities and constraints in the marine and coastal area to guide aquaculture interests. The plan was broadly welcomed by all the groups consulted and commended for its clear layout and approach to the issues surrounding fish farming in the loch.
Loch Eriboll forms part of the north coast of Sutherland and is the area of sheltered waters most suitable for aquaculture development on Scotland'' north coast. With a population density of less than 1 person per square kilometre this area is one of the most remote and sparsely populated in the UK. Employment opportunities are limited and spread throughout the service, agriculture, forestry or fishing sectors. Aquaculture is one of the main economic development options in northwest Sutherland and in recent years has provided an important adjunct to crofting and seasonal tourism. Plans such as this one help the local community, fish farm operators, and potential investors by establishing clear objectives and policies for the area, which encourage sustainable development.
The objectives of the plan are to: - identify opportunities for aquaculture development compatible with other interests; - safeguard the natural heritage interest of the area - its landscapes, and coastal/marine wildlife interest; - identify infrastructure investment priorities to support the development of aquaculture and to maximise the general economic and recreational value of the loch; - identify and safeguard the recreation/tourism assets of the loch; - raise public awareness of the multi-faceted resources of Loch Eriboll and its environs.
The Loch Eriboll Plan is the first of a second generation of aquaculture plans prepared for parts of the Highland area. The first generation of plans were produced between 1987-88 by Highland Regional Council and the aim is now to update these and fill in the more obvious geographical gaps in coverage. Loch Eriboll was one such gap because of the number of applications for seabed leases, which it has seen, in recent years. Preparation of this document is also timely in the light of the current Scottish Executive consultation on the extension of planning controls to marine fish and shellfish farming developments.
Being the first of a new generation, the Eriboll Plan sets the tone and style for those, which will follow. Unlike earlier plans it has been able to utilise GIS software in the map production, enabling a greater range of information to be illustrated clearly. A database was developed for dealing with consultation on this type of plan and a fresh document style has been designed with more use of colour and illustration than previously. These developments will simplify the process of preparing and updating subsequent framework plans.
The plan has had to address a number of potentially conflicting interests in the loch, some of which are perhaps unique to this part of Highland. These include: 1) a number of statutory and non-statutory nature conservation designations in and adjacent to the loch. The Marine Consultation Area is particularly relevant, identifying a number of important habitats and species in the loch; 2) important game fishing rivers flowing into the loch. In comparison to the west coast, the native stocks of migratory sea trout and salmon have been fairly stable. There is however a need here, as elsewhere, to minimise the impact of aquaculture operations on these wild stocks; 3) the loch's tradition of use for naval training exercises. Its strategic location and proximity to the Cape Wrath weapons range has given it a continuing role as an anchorage and as a training area from time to time for land-sea exercises; 4) the implications for aquaculture following the identification of potential for a large scale coastal superquarry on the shores of the loch.
The outcome of this process is a document that provides clear policy guidance having taken account of the range of interests in this area. The project has also marshalled a body of information, which has raised the general level of awareness of Loch Eriboll - both locally and among organisations based outside the area. Aquaculture developers can now tailor their applications for seabed leases with a clearer idea of the issues and interests they must take into account and with a better idea of the likely outcome.
The judges asked for a presentation. They were impressed by the work which the team has carried out in producing an aquaculture framework plan with very limited resources. They see the value of this example in developing the format and presentation of these plans. And they recognise that the simple and direct approach of the team has produced a straightforward framework to which a number of interests can relate. Aquaculture framework plans cannot pretend to cover all issues in detail, they are essentially the expression of an agreed basis on which management decisions and actions of various interests can be founded. The judges wholeheartedly commend the team for the clarity of their approach. They recommend the Loch Eriboll Aquaculture Framework Plan for commendation in this category.