The company behind controversial plans for a salmon farm on Loch Long has released a list of endorsements from marine environmental and green groups it says support the concept.

The application by Loch Long Salmon (LLS) for a site in the shadow of Beinn Reithe has already attracted almost 200 objections from concerned members of the public.

But the company says its plans for the 'semi-closed containment' facility are being backed by organisations including the Scottish Wildlife Trust, the Atlantic Salmon Trust and the Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust.

The firm also says its application has drawn no objections from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage) or Marine Scotland, and is backed by the community council in Arrochar, Tarbet and Ardlui.

The latter body has consistently supported the project, though their counterparts in Cove and Kilcreggan have lodged an objection - and the Advertiser reported in July that the community council in Garelochhead had withdrawn its objection to the proposal.

According to LLS, the Atlantic Salmon Trust have said they are "supportive of the technology and approach that you are taking…we recognise that this technology has been used successfully in other countries”.

And, again according to LLS, the Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust says that it has "long called for the adoption of closed containment of salmon farms in Scotland’s inshore waters, so the proposal by LLS appears to be a material move in that direction", and that "to that extent, SIFT is supportive of Loch Long Salmon’s proposals”.

The firm's proposals were lodged with the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority in October of last year, four months after the submission of a 'proposal of application notice', as required for all major planning applications in the National Park.

The company says it hopes to establish a further four sites in the west of Scotland – though this would be subject to planning approval – and that if all its plans receive permission, it will bring more than £200 million of capital investment into rural Scotland and create at least 12 full-time equivalent jobs at each site.

The firm also says it plans to contribute £100,000 a year to local community projects if its proposals are approved.

Stewart Hawthorn, managing director of Loch Long Salmon, said: “Semi-closed containment technology has been shown to be safe and reliable through over 20 years deployment in marine environments in Norway, Canada and the Faroe Islands.

“We are pleased to be bringing this technology to Scotland, that has been endorsed by many environmental- and conservation-focused groups as potentially transformational for the salmon farming sector here in Scotland.

"By setting up this first site in Scotland we can demonstrate what is possible and we expect to see wider adoption in other salmon farming areas.

"Our approach is different with no sea lice, capture of fish waste and no requirement for acoustic seal scaring devices.”

“This technology will create valuable jobs in rural Scotland which could otherwise be lost and will do so in a way which will protect the environment. It would show Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is a leader in supporting innovations which not only protect the beauty of the Park but sustain the communities that are so valuable to this area.”