Loch Long Salmon’s first semi-closed farming site at Beinn Reithe, Scotland, has attracted a new investor: Golden Acre, a U.K. food distribution company.
According to the company, its semi-closed farming enclosures prevent sea lice from entering the farming environment with an impermeable barrier surrounding the farming space, as clean, lice-free, deep water is pumped into the farming enclosure. The systems also have the capacity to capture salmon waste, which can then be used as a natural fertilizer or in green energy production.
Golden Acre Owner Neale Powell-Cook said his company had been convinced by the expertise brought to the project by Loch Long’s team.
“We want to contribute to improving the environmental performance of the U.K. food sector,” he said. “We really appreciate Loch Long Salmon’s genuine commitment to sustainable salmon farming in Scotland and are anticipating a strong market demand for these special fish.”
The next step for the Beinn Reithe project is to apply for planning permission and a SEPA CAR license.
Loch Long Salmon expects to have full planning permission by the end of 2021. Site construction will commence in 2022 and first stocking is planned for early in 2023. The long-term objective is to establish a company that can raise 15,000 to 20,000 metric tons (MT) of salmon per annum.
“Our goal with Loch Long Salmon is to establish a new salmon farming company that addresses concerns about sea lice and organic waste accumulation. Semi-closed farming systems deliver this and support rural development in Scotland. We are delighted that Neale Powell-Cook and the team at Golden Acre have joined us to ensure that this goal becomes a reality,” Loch Long Salmon Director Christoph Harwood said.
Loch Long Salmon was set up by Simply Blue Group, a blue economy project developer, through its Simply Blue Aquaculture subsidiary, and Trimara Services UK Ltd., an aquaculture sales and service supply company.
Photo courtesy of Loch Long Salmon
