In order to meet growing demand for farmed Scottish salmon in Europe, Marine Harvest is planning to invest GPB 40 million (USD 64 million, EUR 43 million) in fish farms in Scotland. Demand for Scottish salmon has been rising by 6 to 8 percent annually.
The company hopes to open four farms around three times the size of an average farm to eventually produce an additional 20,000 metric tons of fish. Marine Harvest is aiming to stock the farms by fall of 2012.
The open-sea farms would create 40 local jobs, with people living in shifts on residential barges off the coast of the Western Isles.
The Norwegian company is considering locations around the islands of Eriskay, Sandray, Pabbay, Mingulay, Berneray, Canna, Run, Muck and Coll. It is also planning a shore base at Barra.
