Landscape and aquaculture
Fish farms are a common feature along some of Scotland's coasts, but careful siting and design is essential to minimise their landscape impact.
Marine aquaculture – fish farming – continues to expand and develop across Scotland. Aquaculture development is found mainly along the west and north coasts of the mainland and around many of our offshore islands.
Like all development, poorly sited or designed fish farms can have a negative effect on coastal character and visual amenity.
Sometimes it’s possible to minimise negative effects by improving the detailed design of individual structures. More often, potential landscape, seascape and visual problems can be avoided altogether – simply by choosing a better site for the fish farm in the first place.
View our planning and development guidance on marine aquaculture.
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