Finfish farming – guiding the right development to the right place

The Council’s Marine Planners are seeking views on draft guidance for potential new fish farming developments in Orkney. 

The 12-week consultation focusing on the draft Orkney Islands Marine Region: Finfish Farming Spatial Guidance will run alongside the linked Regional Marine Plan consultation. 

This non-statutory guidance aims to identify sensitive areas and areas of opportunity for fish farming developments around Orkney and provides greater clarity to stakeholders on the significance and potential sensitivity of marine features. 

The guidance is a decision support tool to help identify areas of greater and lesser sensitivity or constraint. It does not identify locations that are suitable or unsuitable for finfish farm development but does allow flexibility for fish farmers to identify locations that meet their own operational and technical requirements. 

The Council’s Marine Planning Team Manager, James Green, said: “Finfish farming brings both benefits and impacts so it is important that we guide the right development to the right place. 

“Fish farm development within 12 nautical miles of Orkney requires planning permission. The Council has prepared the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan (Consultation Draft), which includes a policy on fish farming. 

“The purpose of the spatial guidance is to support the implementation of the Orkney Marine Plan policy around finfish farming and provide greater clarity on the location of environmental, historic, social economic and infrastructure features. 

“Through the guidance we want to identify areas of greater and lesser sensitivity or constraint for finfish farming development whilst informing stakeholder understanding and participation in the planning and decision-making process.” 

The guidance also includes information around the location, significance and potential sensitivity of features or “receptors” that may be affected by fish farming development such as internationally rare habitats, ferry routes or subsea electricity cables. 

Online interactive maps have been created and can be accessed on 1 August from storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/3ec2b843d89346e3ac0e2f476b4568bd allowing users to identify nearby receptors from a given point by clicking on a desired location. 

If folk would like to ask about or discuss anything in the Finfish Farming Spatial Guidance, they can come along to any of the Council’s Regional Marine Plan Consultation events. 

If you would like to find out more about the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan or the Finfish Farming Spatial Guidance, visit https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/D/marine-planning.htm 

Queries relating to the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan and the Spatial Guidance can be directed to the Marine Planning Team at Orkney Islands Council, by email: marine.planning@orkney.gov.uk  

The consultation documents can be accessed at https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/D/marine-planning.htm Kirkwall Library & Archive, the Warehouse Buildings in Stromness or Customer Services, Orkney Islands Council, School Place, Kirkwall, KW15 1NY.  

Consultation response forms should be submitted to marine.planning@orkney.gov.uk or in writing: Development and Marine Planning, Orkney Islands Council, School Place, Kirkwall KW15 1NY by 17.00 on 25 October 2024.  

Consultation Drop-in Events 

In addition, two online engagement events will be held for those unable to attend in person. These are on Wednesday 21 August from 11am-12noon and Tuesday 8 October from 6pm-7pm. You can book via orkney.gov.uk/mpc-infosession.