Pier we go: Mowi proposes big changes for Carradale Harbour
Fish farmer plans new pontoon and shore base as it awaits decision on second farm in Sound
Salmon farmer Mowi Scotland is unveiled a proposal to redevelop the harbour at Carradale, on the east coast of the Kintyre peninsula, and said it hopes the move will be a catalyst for further community regeneration.
Mowi has a salmon farm in Kilbrannan Sound north of Carradale and has applied for planning permission for a second farm sited north of Cour Bay.
The company wants to build a new shore base, storage facilities and a new pontoon where boat owners and fishers can park, organise, and maintain their boats.
An iconic location
“Carradale Harbour is an iconic location and has seen a diverse range of activity and pressures over its lifespan,” Mowi Scotland chief operating officer Ben Hadfield told the company’s newsletter, The Scoop. “We see scope to help alleviate these pressures and create something exciting that serves the needs of local business and the community at large.”
Mowi has been farming at Carradale for eight years and employs 12 people in the area. The new farm would provide a further 10 jobs.
More than 48,000 salmon escaped from the Carradale farm during Storm Ellen in 2020 when mooring ropes that were rubbing against each other failed and several pens were swept off site by the heavy seas. But it has otherwise been a good location for Mowi.
Community support
“Our salmon farm at Carradale has been a successful site for many years, enjoying strong community support even during our most challenging periods,” said Hadfield. “We are very grateful for this, and therefore want to expand in a way that not only benefits our company, but also for the Carradale and neighbouring communities.
“As well as improving a vital amenity for locals, and setting the tone for further community development, we hope the regeneration would help reinvigorate the high energy Carradale Harbour has experienced throughout its history.”
Mowi has purchased land and buildings adjacent to Carradale Harbour for its new proposed facilities, which will incorporate a farm manager’s office and a separate support building for storage and staff welfare facilities. These spaces would be developed alongside public-friendly landscaping and car parking cohesive with its natural environment.
Mowi would also relinquish its current shore base building on Shore Road and shared harbour areas, providing an opportunity for innovative community development projects where amenities and facilities could be established to cater for locals and visitors.
Award-winning architect
The Norwegian-owned fish farmer has appointed award-winning architect, Ann Nisbet Studio, which has developed indicative conceptual layouts to illustrate the full potential of the harbour redevelopment. These take into consideration everything from proportions to cladding materials, to reflect and enhance both the immediate site and the wider coastal landscape, said Mowi.
Ian Brodie, chair of East Kintyre Community Council, told The Scoop: “We welcome this development proposal, recognising the benefits it can bring to revitalising the harbour environment, a focal point of Carradale, and we look forward to continuing to work in partnership with Mowi to realise the benefits this opportunity brings.”
A community engagement process will be conducted as the project develops, said Mowi.
