Appeals board twice sides with Seyðisfjörður landowners

Mbl.is reports that Iceland’s Environmental and Natural Resources Board of Appeal has twice overturned a decision denying coastal landowners in Seyðisfjörður the right to participate in an administrative case concerning Kaldvík hf.’s applications for building permits for planned sea-cage fish farming in the fjord.

The Housing and Construction Authority (HMS) first rejected requests from the owners of Austdalur, Brimnes 1 and 2, Dvergasteinn, Selstaðir and Sörlastaðavík in March. The appeals board overturned that decision the same month. The owners then submitted a more detailed request, which HMS rejected again. They appealed the second decision in July.

The properties border the area planned for Kaldvík’s fish farming. In their appeal, the owners said parts of the proposed farming area lay within or close to the outer limits of the coastal waters tied to their properties. They argued that the operation would restrict their fishing rights and cause significant effects on neighbouring properties. They also said they were the only ones able to provide HMS with information about the project’s impact on their interests.

HMS considered the plans consistent with the coastal zone plan and outside those coastal limits. A representative of Kaldvík said the owners had not shown that the plans would affect their rights or other legally protected interests.

In September, the Food and Veterinary Authority granted Kaldvík a permit to farm up to 10,000 tonnes of salmon in sea cages in the fjord, following a wait of several years.