Salmon producer Scottish Sea Farms (SSF) announced that it is looking to trial Scotland’s first open-ocean farm, but has also stressed that it needs the support of national authorities if it is to make this ambition a reality.
In a press release, SSF confirmed it is keen to explore the biological and technological considerations of farming in much deeper, more exposed waters, and also to measure the potential of such locations to help meet the growing demand for Scottish farmed salmon. It added that it regards open ocean farming as the next step in the company’s “ongoing push to maximize fish survival and minimize its environmental footprint.”
“We put a great deal of time and care into identifying the best farming locations, both in terms of finding the optimum growing conditions and ensuring that the local marine environment can naturally sustain such activity,” SSF Managing Director Jim Gallagher. said “Over recent years, the scope of this work has widened to include the potential of more exposed locations; locations that could add to the volumes of salmon grown at our existing 42-strong farming estate.”
Making those farms reality, however, would take governmental cooperation, he added.
“For this ambition to be realized however, we need an engaged, robust and forward-thinking regulatory framework that enables Scotland’s salmon farmers to continue growing in a responsible manner and helps the sector reclaim its competitiveness on the world stage,” Gallagher said. “With this in mind, we’re eager to take the next step by opening the dialogue with Marine Scotland, SEPA (Scottish Environmental Protection Agency), and local authorities to see if this ambition is matched and if our aspiration of piloting a full-scale ‘ocean farm’ can be realized.”
If given the go-ahead, SSF’s Norwegian owner Norskott Havbruk AS would provide the multi-million-dollar investment needed. Norskott Havbruk is a 50/50 joint venture between Lerøy Seafood Group and SalMar ASA.
“Both Lerøy Seafood Group and SalMar ASA are ready to give their backing to this latest investment and we look forward to working with the Scottish government and regulators to see whether, together, we can make it happen,” SSF and Norskott Havbruk Chairman Leif Inge Nordhammer said.
The plan already has the support of Scotland’s Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing.
“This is exactly the kind of landmark inward investment opportunity that Scotland needs to thrive and grow, and I am determined that we seize that opportunity,” Ewing said. “The potential benefits of farming in deeper, more exposed locations have been raised many times over recent years, by all sides of the debate. So to see Scottish Sea Farms step forward and commit the time and investment involved in exploring that potential here is hugely welcome news.”
Ewing added that open ocean farming has multiple potential benefits for Scotland as a whole.
“Such a concept, if realized, promises significant advances in fish welfare and environmental protection, not forgetting new jobs and business for Scotland, and as such it is something that the Scottish government is keen to progress in partnership with the relevant regulatory and local authorities,” Ewing said.
The proposed ocean farm would follow on the heels of SSF’s last major investment, the GBP 58 million (USD 74.3 million, EUR 66.6 million) Barcaldine RAS hatchery which was completed last year, and recently had its smolts transferred to sea pens for the first time.
