Inverness, Scotland-based Gael Force Group is planning to expand into Eastern Canada, the company announced 25 September.
The company, a manufacturer and supplier of equipment, technology, and services to aquaculture and other marine markets, is “actively seeking to make inward investment in Newfoundland and establish a new base to support the dedicated servicing of fish farms in the province, where large growth in salmon production is currently being projected,” it said in a press release.
The move comes after the company conducted market research and multiple visits to “current and future opportunities” in Atlantic Canada, the company said.
“Our visits to Atlantic Canada have revealed a commitment to aquaculture with a real appetite to grow the industry substantially,” Marketing Manager Marc Wilson said. “Every person we have spoken to has welcomed the prospect of Gael Force making an inward investment in Newfoundland. We are highly confident in our ability to provide a trusted range of equipment and technology that will meet the needs of producers in the Atlantic Provinces and enable them to safely and securely meet the highest standards of fish husbandry.”
The move forms a major part of Gael Force’s current strategic plan, which involves entering into overseas aquaculture markets, the company said. It plans to supply and service customers with products including pen and barge moorings, plastic fish pens, concrete and steel feed barges, offshore feeding systems and pellet detection software, and underwater technology including cameras and lighting.
Wilson said the company’s plans also included having a support and response team on-site in Canada.
“We fully understand the need for us as a supplier to have a highly skilled and dedicated service team on the ground in Canada to be ready to respond to the specific needs of those customers, and that is something we are totally prepared to commit to,” he said.
Gael Force made the announcement ahead of its participation in the Cold Harvest conference in St. John’s, Newfoundland, taking place 26 and 27 September. Group Managing Director Stewart Graham is scheduled to speak at the conference during two sessions, one of which will give a detailed overview about Gael Force Group’s entrance into the Canadian market.
