New agreement hailed as a model for the west coast and the northern isles

The deal will see all sites in Loch Roag simultaneously fallowed for the first time in 25 years. An extended fallow period will be introduced, which will be repeated at the end of every production cycle.  Salmon farms are to be relocated to deeper sites with stronger tides, further away from river mouths.  

As FishfarmingXpert reported last week, Lighthouse Caledonia Ltd and Hebridean Salmon Co. Ltd are exchanging sites in the deal. Lighthouse Caledonia Ltd will transfer three farms to Hebredian Salmon Co. Ltd for growing shellfish, receiving in return three salmon sites.  Of these, one will be retained and two smaller sites converted into a larger unit. 

Odd Geir Oddsen, Managing Director of Lighthouse Caledonia Ltd, said the Loch Roag system would become the envy of the industry and environmentalists, and hailed it model for the west coast and the northern isles. 

“We will operate an all fish in, all fish out policy, stocking all of our farms in the loch at the same time.  Co-ordinated sea lice treatments and synchronised fallowing will bring further environmental benefits,” he added.