French demand for “top of the range” oysters is driving a Drumnadrochit company’s plans for a major expansion on the west coast.
Measan Na Mara – Gaelic for fruits of the sea – has applied for planning permission to increase the size of its oyster farm in Loch Moidart at Acharacle from just under five acres to more than 57.
The proposed scheme would create seven full-time and five part-time seasonal jobs.
William McDermott, of Measan Na Mara, has been operating his existing oyster farm as a one-man business for 17 years, producing about 20 tonnes of the delicacy each year.
He is now hoping to extend his operation over four separate areas of the seabed in the South Channel of the loch and increase annual production to about 300 tonnes.
Mr McDermott, of An Tearmann, East Lewiston, Drumnadrochit, revealed the project was being backed by an investment of about £500,000 from a French oyster company.
He said: “The French market is huge and is becoming increasingly geared toward triploid oysters. These are oysters which are infertile and don’t breed so they put all their energy into producing flesh. They are faster growing than other oysters and much more palatable to the French consumer. They are top of the range.”
Mr McDermott said a public consultation exercise on his plans had proved “very positive”.
“We think we can successfully hide the development so it would not have any implications for tourist sites,” he added. “We also intend to change the system from the BST long lines we are using at the moment to the French trestle and poche (bag) system, which is underwater most of the time.”
The company is applying for permission to site 21,420 trestles, each measuring about 10ft by 3ft by 18in, in the loch.
A spokesman for Scottish Natural Heritage said the proposed development was close to the Sound of Arisaig Special Area of Conservation and the Morar, Moidart and Ardnamurchan National Scenic Area and that this would be a factor in its advice to Highland Council regarding the application.