Mowi’s Scottish broodstock facility nears completion

Fifty million eyed eggs, enough to supply all Mowi farms in Scotland, as well as some excess that could be sold commercially, will be produced at Ardessie.

This state-of-the-art facility is designed to allow photoperiod and water temperature control using recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) technology to advance or delay the spawning of the fish.

It will feature three different egg incubation RAS units with each one held at a different temperature to extend the period of egg supply. This will ensure that eggs can be stocked throughout the year to the production hatcheries.

The Ardessie broodstock facility is a significant milestone for Mowi Scotland which currently sources the majority of its eggs from Mowi Ireland where they are only available within the standard spawning season. Going forward, Ardessie will produce exclusive Mowi genetic strain eggs for Scotland.

The new broodstock operation will employ nine people, including the Broodstock Manager, and will retain staff from the Wester Ross seawater site which is adjacent to the facility. This seawater site is used to stock the broodstock prior to transfer into the new facility and the team there will continue to operate the sea site and look after the broodstock there.

The purpose-built facility at Ardessie will consist of three buildings: the main broodstock building; the egg incubation building; and the intake water treatment/shorebase building.

Over 2023-2024, all groundworks were completed, including building foundations, general site drainage and underground process pipework. The floor slabs in all three buildings were also completed, as was the steel frame in the intake water building and egg incubation building.

So far this year, Mowi says, all buildings have been fully clad, with the main building including a “green” roof which helps reduce the visual impact of the facility. Within the buildings, the fish tanks have been installed, walkways are in place and the internal partitions are almost complete.

The high voltage electrical substation is in place and electrical services are progressing well throughout the building. The chilled water systems are also complete, and work continues apace to install the RAS plant and oxygen systems, and ancillary services. The company estimates that the facility will be completed in late 2025.