The Scottish government granted approval on 3 September for the expansion of the Scottish Sea Farms site at Eday. The expansion will create four new jobs locally, doubling the existing number of employees at the Eday site, and significantly increase production of the quality product farmed in Orkney waters.
The expansion will see the existing site increased from six cages to 12 which will more than double the site’s consent from 800 metric tons (MT) to 1900 MT, making it the largest Scottish Sea Farms site in the area.
With a local population of only 150, this number of new jobs has been welcomed by the local community. Eday is located in the northern isles of Orkney, 15 miles from mainland Orkney and is one of Scottish Sea Farms’ most remote locations for farming salmon.
“This is good news for both Scottish Sea Farms and the local community. Importantly, we have created some brand new jobs in a remote location. We want to continue to build relationships locally and will bring skilled employment with training packages for local people,” Richard Darbyshire, Scottish Sea Farms local area manager. “This increased consent will allow us also to meet the increasing demand we have globally for Scottish Sea Farms Orkney salmon. Our Heart of the Community Trust is also there to support community initiatives that make a real difference to people’s lives.”
Scottish Sea Farms’ Orkney region currently produces about 5,000 MT of salmon annually for U.K. restaurants and retailers, as well as for export markets globally.
