Salmon continuing to boost Scottish economy

The Scottish aquaculture sector’s direct economic contribution is now approaching the half a billion pounds mark, a new Scottish government report has disclosed. And it is also continuing to create new employment opportunities. The government’s marine economy statistics for 2021 (published this week) says it has increased by 154% to £472 million over a decade,…

Read More

Salmon Scotland calls for more investment in rural housing

THE trade group Salmon Scotland is calling for £10 million-a-year in licence fees paid to Crown Estate Scotland to be reinvested in affordable housing to tackle the growing property crisis in rural communities. The demand comes after the Highland Council warned that parts of the region are being “drained” of people. Salmon Scotland points out…

Read More

Gael Force Group signs exclusive agreement with Nauplius Workboats to build steel feed barges

Left: Gerrit Knol, Technical Director and Naval Architect of Nauplius. Right: Stewart Graham, Managing Director of Gael Force Group.

GAEL Force, the aquaculture equipment and technology supplier and  accredited manufacturer NS 9415  has  signed an exclusive agreement to partner with the Dutch shipyard Nauplius Workboats for the building of its range of SeaFeed steel feed barges. It says partnering with Nauplius will enable Gael Force to strengthen and increase its barge building capacity while…

Read More

SAIC set to fund seven more aquaculture projects

The Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) is supporting further research into fish health and wellbeing initiatives in 2024, with seven successful projects set to benefit from its most recent funding call. With a combined total value of more than £860,000, the funded research and development (R&D) projects have secured over £300,000 from SAIC with additional…

Read More

SEPA to go ahead with wild salmon protection zones

The Scottish Government is to press forward with the roll-out of “Wild Salmon Protection Zones” which will restrict fish farming in areas seen as high risk for wild salmon. The proposed regulatory framework has not, however, been welcomed by Scotland’s salmon industry. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has been consulting on its plans for…

Read More

Anti-ageing supplement ‘could help salmon’

A diet supplement already consumed by humans for its anti-ageing benefits could be used to help salmon digest feed and improve their natural disease resistance, with feed trials kicking off next month. A team of aquaculture and veterinary experts are looking at the impact of adding spermidine – a compound found in vegetables, cereals and…

Read More

Mowi wins planning approval for Kilbrannan Sound farm

Mowi Scotland has secured planning approval for a new salmon farm off the coast of Kintyre, on Scotland’s west coast. The farm, at Kilbrannan Sound, is expected to create 10 permanent jobs and is also linked to a major investment by Mowi in the local community harbour in Carradale. The company’s investment will see the…

Read More

Ocean Ecology acquires Tritonia Scientific

Marine environmental services business Ocean Ecology Limited (OEL) has taken a controlling stake in underwater survey specialist Tritonia Scientific. The move follows OEL’s acquisition of marine tech company Ecospan Environmental last year. Tritonia’s key technology involves using georeferenced 3D photogrammetry (G3DP) to evaluate hard substrates beneath and around fish farm sites. G3DP also serves as…

Read More

Salmon even more popular with UK consumers, data shows

Salmon’s position as the UK’s favourite seafood has been further strengthened, the latest retail figures show. Sales figures for the year to September 2023 compiled by industry authority Seafish, with marketing group Nielsen, reveal that salmon sales totalled around £1.25bn, up 3.2% on the same period last year. Salmon accounted for around 30% of total…

Read More

Innovation body SAIC in talks to secure future funding

Efforts are under way to secure funding for SAIC, the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre, after its main source of support looks set to end in July next year. SAIC, originally known as the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre, has played a key role in funding and co-ordinating research and innovation in the aquaculture space. While it…

Read More