Princess Anne gives royal seal of approval to Bakkafrost hatchery

The Princess Royal has officially opened Bakkafrost Scotland’s multi-million pound Applecross facility in Wester Ross, the UK’s largest freshwater recirculating aquaculture system (RAS).

During the visit on Wednesday, Princess Anne toured the freshwater site, met employees and local guests, and learned how advanced technology is being used to improve fish welfare, reduce environmental impact and support high value, skilled rural employment.

The facility plays a pivotal role in Bakkafrost Scotland’s ‘one summer at sea’ production strategy, which allows salmon to spend longer growing in controlled freshwater conditions before transferring to sea as larger, stronger smolt.

Natural challenges

Salmon farmers in Scotland believe the approach is a gamechanger, significantly reducing the time fish spend at sea and therefore reducing exposure to natural challenges. 

Operating 24 hours a day, the Applecross site supports around 40 skilled permanent roles, including biology, veterinary, engineering, energy and technical operations.

Staff worked closely with local and international specialists to design, build, and now operate the facility, developing new skills in RAS management, renewable energy integration, and advanced fish health monitoring.

Supporting jobs

During construction, Bakkafrost Scotland worked extensively with local and regional suppliers, contractors, and hauliers, supporting jobs across the Highlands and Islands and embedding local knowledge into the project.

The company said collaboration with Scottish engineering, civil construction, and energy firms was critical to delivering the complex build in a remote rural location.

Using RAS technology, the Applecross facility provides precise control of water quality, temperature, and flow, enabling improved husbandry, enhanced smolt health screening, and more effective vaccination, supporting higher fish welfare standards.

Continuously recirculated

The site uses significantly less water than traditional hatcheries, with water continuously recirculated through filtration, oxygenation, disinfection, and natural biofilter systems. 

It also includes a multi-million pound waste to fertiliser conversion system, using UK pyrolysis technology to transform sludge removed from the RAS process into biochar, a global first in aquaculture.

The carbon rich product can be used locally to improve soil quality for forestry, supporting more circular food systems and significantly reducing waste.

Lasting infrastructure

The facility is powered directly by renewable energy, including on-site solar and hydro generation, and as part of the Applecross development a 26km private wire was installed across the Beallach na Bà to connect the site directly to renewable hydro power.

At the same time, Bakkafrost Scotland invested in local road improvements, enhancing safety and accessibility with new passing places and signs, delivering lasting infrastructure benefits for the wider community.

The Princess Royal was welcomed to Applecross by Bakkafrost Scotland managing director Ian Laister, before meeting employees from across the business, including biology, veterinary, engineering, and marine operations teams.

Real gamechanger

Laister said: “Applecross represents a significant long-term investment in the future of sustainable salmon farming in Scotland. 

“It reflects our determination to become the most sustainable Scottish salmon producer, it demonstrates how innovation, animal welfare, engineering, renewable energy, and skilled local employment can come together in modern food production. 

“The ‘one summer at sea’ model has the potential to be a real gamechanger for the sector, improving survival, reducing biological challenges and making better use of natural resources. 

“We were honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal and proud to showcase the people, technology, and community partnerships behind this facility.”