Bakkafrost Scotland losses mount but progress on the horizon

Bakkafrost’s farming operations in Scotland continued to produce sizeable losses between July and September, the Q3 figures show. The Farming Scotland EBIT or operational loss was DKK 282 million (£33m), up from a loss of DKK 180m (£21m) a year ago. Freshwater Scotland saw its operational EBIT or profit increase from DKK 11m (£1.2m) to…

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Scottish Government confirms it is scrapping HPMA plan

The Scottish Government’s plan to introduce highly protected marine areas covering a tenth of the country’s waters is dead – and that’s official. The government has today confirmed that, following an extensive consultation on the proposal, the plan for highly protected marine areas (HPMAs) will not be taken forward. Under the consultation, HPMAs would be…

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Scottish business bodies call for rate freeze

Salmon Scotland is among 35 leading business representative groups and industry bodies calling for a business rate freeze for Scotland. The 35 organisations have jointly written to the Scottish Government’s Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary. They represent a broad cross section of Scottish industry and commerce, including retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, tourism, leisure, and commercial…

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Scottish salmon industry records big fall in antibiotics use

Scotland’s salmon farming companies have dramatically reduced antibiotic medicine use by more than half in the space of a year, UK Government figures show. The new Veterinary Medicines Directorate’s Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance and Sales Surveillance (VARSS) report shows that 2022 usage of antibiotics in salmon was 18.6 mg/kg, down 24.5 mg/kg since 2021. The amount…

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Gael Force reports turnover up 14% for 2022

Scottish-based marine supplier Gael Force has reported that its turnover for 2022 was up by 14% year on year, thanks to a policy of investment in skills and technology through difficult times in the previous two years. Gael Force, a key supplier to the Scottish aquaculture sector saw turnover of £27.04m for the year ended…

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Another award for Bakkafrost’s Native Hebridean

Salmon producer Bakkafrost Scotland has picked up another award for its Native Hebridean Salmon. The company was declared Primary Producer of the Year at the Highlands and Islands Food & Drink Awards 2023, held in Inverness last Friday night at the Kingsmills Hotel. Bakkafrost’s Native Hebridean product has won numerous awards over the past few…

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Cooke Aquaculture consults on Shetland plan

Fish farmer Cooke Aquaculture has been consulting on plans for a new salmon farm near Vementry on Shetland. The proposed farm at Swarbricks Minn, between Vementry and Muckle Roe, would consist of 12 x 120 m circumference salmon pens arranged in a group of 2 x 6 pens. There will also be a feed barge…

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Double accolade for family oyster business

It was a double celebration for family-owned Caledonian Oysters at the Scottish Shellfish Awards this week, with the business retaining its title for Best Native Oysters and receiving a commendation in the Rock Oyster (Gigas) category. The awards, held as part of the annual Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers conference in Oban, saw prizes given…

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Campaigners question ‘sustainable salmon’ claims

Two campaign groups are calling on the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority to take action over the industry body Salmon Scotland’s use of the word “sustainable”. The two organisations, WildFish and Coastal Communities Network Scotland (CCN), say they have submitted a detailed dossier and complaint to the CMA. The complaint details the extensive use of…

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Salmon Scotland calls for change in ‘protected’ status wording

Industry body Salmon Scotland has confirmed that it has asked for the phrase “farmed” to be removed from the sector’s “protected geographical indication”, the rules which set out which products can be sold as “Scottish salmon”. A protected geographical indication (PGI) can apply to any food, drink and agricultural product with a geographical connection or…

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