Organic Sea Harvest finally wins approval for new Skye fish farm

Organic Sea Harvest has been given the go-ahead to create a new fish farm off the coast of Skye just a few weeks after an earlier attempt had been turned down.

Councillors had earlier refused permission after the facility at Flodigarry, off the north east coast of the island, but they had approved an application for another at Balmaqueen.

The company said at the time it was disappointed by the decision and would reflect on what further action it needed to proceed.

It pointed out that the company had been farming salmon in North East Skye since 2021 when permission for an initial two cage groups at Invertote and Culnacnoc was granted by the planning committee.

It also said it farms to some of the strictest organic standards in the world with accreditation from several leading organisations.

The application was then passed up to the full council with officers recommending approval.

Organic Sea Harvest, had reduced the number of cages from its initial proposals to build ten salmon cages near Flodigarry and another ten at Balmaqueen.

Those councillors who opposed the plans agreed that the project could bring social and economic benefits to Skye, but said they were not considered sufficient to outweigh the adverse visual and coastal impact on the special qualities of the special landscape area.

Speaking to STV News Alex MacInnes of Organic Sea Harvest said: “We will have to reflect on today, in particular some of the comments that were made by members .”

“We possibly need to revert to some of what was stated.”

Organic Sea Harvest was established in 2017 with the vision of filling a gap in the organic salmon market.

It is also the first new, independently owned and operated salmon farm in Scotland for several decades, going against the trend by focusing solely on raising organic salmon.