Concerns have been raised about the effects a planned offshore windfarm will have on fish, oilfield operations and air traffic control.
Up to 277 turbines would be fixed to the seabed nine miles off the Caithness coast, in the Beatrice oilfield, if the £3billion development wins support from the Scottish Government.
But a number of organisations have raised concerns over the proposals.
Developer Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd (Bowl) – a consortium of SSE Renewables and Repsol Nuevas Energias UK – said the consultation period is the right forum for the issues to be raised and insisted the firm would “listen carefully”.
The Moray Firth Sea Trout Project (MFSTP), representing the Fisheries Trusts surrounding the Moray Firth, has objected to the development, citing a lack of monitoring and inadequate mitigation.
It states the windfarm would be sited on an important feeding site for the species and raises concerns over the possible disorientating effect of underwater noise during construction and electromagnetic fields from subsea cables.
The group’s concerns were echoed by the Association of Salmon Fishery Boards, which highlighted that several rivers flowing into the firth were Special Areas of Conservation for Atlantic salmon.
The association said: “We believe that the lack of meaningful monitoring in the present proposal is extremely disappointing and completely inadequate.”
National Air Traffic Services (Nats) has also objected to the development, due to concerns the turbines will be picked up by the radar station at Allanshill.
A spokesman said: “NATS received more than 2,000 wind turbine development applications last year, yet 98% raised no objection from us. Where we do object, it is always on the grounds of aviation safety and efficiency.
“In this instance, an assessment concluded that the proposed turbines were likely to be detected by our radar station at Allanshill, causing potential disruption to our operations. We are now working closely with the developer to find a solution that works for both parties.”
Air and sea access is a concern for Ithaca Energy, which runs the Beatrice and Jacky oil fields.
Operations manager Nigel MacLean raised questions about the possibility that boats and helicopters will be obstructed while going to and from their rigs.