Friends of Loch Hourn is a non-hierarchical, unincorporated community group in one of the most remote areas on the west coast. The loch itself is a dramatic, deep fiord-like sea loch, surrounded by several Munro peaks; it is in the heart of what used to be called the ‘rough bounds’, famous for its wilderness, stark beauty and sparse population. The group came together in response to the planned expansion of a large open-pen salmon farm. Awareness of the ecological impact that this farm has had on the marine environment over the last 30 years has finally dawned on the local community who have witnessed the slow decline in marine life and biodiversity in the loch.
 
The group was established only a year ago and now has over 100 members made up of residents, regular visitors, landowners, fishermen and others that have a direct interest in the long-term future of the loch. Main aims and objectives involve the conservation and protection of the marine environment; to promote and encourage the implementation of sustainable planning policies and to disseminate information amongst members and the wider public regarding development plans and activities pertaining to Loch Hourn that could affect the marine environment.
 
This is as close to an island community as it gets on the mainland. The only vehicle access into Loch Hourn is from the north along eighteen miles of single track road from the A87 at Shiel Bridge. Arnisdale and Corran are the two small crofting townships at the end of the road on the north shore, in the heart of Loch Hourn. The all-year-round population of these two villages is in the order of thirty-five people, not including ten remote settlements, scattered along the loch shore that are only accessible by boat.



Of paramount concern at present is the impending planning application by Mowi to expand their salmon farm from 2500 to 3100 tonnes maximum biomass, making it the third largest open-pen feedlot on the west coast. Loch Hourn is one of the slowest flushing lochs where the concentration of sea lice from the existing salmon farm over several decades is responsible for the decline of wild salmon and sea trout populations in nearby rivers. Since the 1970s salmonid populations of the five closest rivers have declined to the extent salmon have become extinct in one, and Marine Scotland gives the others a very low chance of meeting the requirement for sustainability. Wild salmonids are no longer part of the diet or culture of the local community. Coupled with the effects of organophosphate sea lice treatments and increased nutrients from fish faeces, the ecology of Loch Hourn has been transformed from its once abundant and thriving marine ecology to an impoverished facsimile of itself.
 
Friends of Loch Hourn are in the process of creating a website where they can share information about the changes that have occurred in marine environment e.g. the decline of native oysters and blue mussels as well as marine habitats such as maerl beds, sea grass and priority marine species. It will also highlight the positive activities of the group: the addition of several new PMF sites to the NatureScot database, a native oyster project and plans to create more sea grass habitats next year.
 
Chances of persuading the Highland Council to refuse this application seem remote but the group are determined to make their case.   Affiliation with CCN has been invaluable in bringing the group up to speed with the science, tactics and support from many members who have been through this process already. Friends of Loch Hourn look forward to the day when open-pen fish farms are a thing of the past and they can concentrate on restoring Loch Hourn to its former ecological health.