Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond MSP has officially opened a new Marine Harvest’s new GBP 16 million (USD, 24 million, EUR 18.8 million) smolt hatchery in Lochaber.
Marine Harvest plants to grow 11 million fish every year at the hatchery to suppler its farms across the West Highlands and Islands.
The new facility is part of a GBP 80 million (USD 120.2 million, EUR 94 million) expansion of the company’s salmon farming in Scotland to meet growing demand. The 13,500 square meter facility replaces the existing smolt unit, which has been in place for 20 years. It will create five new jobs.
“The Scottish Government fully supports the successful, sustainable, and growing fish farming industry in Scotland, and with farmed salmon now worth over GBP 600 million (USD 901.6 million, EUR 705.4 million) a year, and also being Scotland’s top food export, it is crucial that this industry continues to compete and lead the way internationally,” said Salmond. “I am therefore delighted to officially open this recirculation hatchery in Lochailort which is the largest and most technically advanced hatchery in the world, where more than eleven million young fish will grow each year.
“Demand for Scottish farmed salmon continues to grow and our expansion plans allow us to secure and create jobs in some of the most remote and fragile rural economies. This facility will play its part in what is a major success story for Scotland and its economy,” said Alan Sutherland, Marine Harvest Scotland managing director.
About six million fry and parr will also be produced for on-growing in the company’s four fresh water loch sites.
This latest development is part of Marine Harvest’s expansion plans which includes the creation of new open sea fish farms in various locations in the Minch. Two sites have already opened on Barra and Uist, a third one has planning permission and work continues to identify other potential sites.
