AquaGen Scotland, the Scottish arm of Norway-headquartered aquaculture genetics company AquaGen, has opened a new freshwater recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) center for the incubation of salmon eggs at its salmon hatchery in Holywood, Dumfries.
"The new RAS system is a game-changer for AquaGen Scotland, securing the supply of high-quality best of breed salmon eggs to the Scottish aquaculture industry,” Managing Director Keith Drynan said. "By combining advanced technology with sustainable practices, we're not only improving the health and quality of our Atlantic salmon eggs but also reducing our environmental footprint. This facility showcases our commitment to innovation and sustainability in aquaculture."
The company held a 29 September ribbon cutting event to celebrate the opening of the new facility, which was attended by representatives of Salmon Scotland and Member of Scottish Parliament Finlay Carson.
In a release, AquaGen emphasized the biosecurity and sustainability benefits which the new RAS system would provide to the site.
Recirculating systems, the company said, reduce water use and lower the costs of energy traditionally used to control water temperatures. They also give producers more control over water quality, removing biological contaminants from the environment through UV filtration.
AquaGen said that this facility, in Holywood, as well as its newly certified Profunda facility in Norway, had prepared it to “support both domestic and international salmon farming with robust and export-ready genetics.”
That facility, which opened in 2023, is Norway's only land-based full cycle broodstock and egg production site.
German agriculture and aquaculture-focused strategic holding company EW Group owns AquaGen, along with a number of other salmon genetics technologies firms.
