Smolt cull announced by Landcatch

These fish were due to be supplied to companies affected by the ISA fallowing restrictions currently in force in Shetland; the result of these restrictions has been the curtailment of their smolt placements this year. Even though the measures taken in Shetland to contain ISA have been swift and effective there is an inevitable short-term loss of production capacity. Hugh Currie, Chairman of Argyll-based Landcatch Ltd., said that the situation in which the company finds itself, through no fault of its own, is ‘desperately disappointing', especially at a time when the outlook and prospects for salmon farming in the Northern hemisphere are so good. "Up until January, when the news broke regarding ISA in Shetland, Landcatch had been looking forward to elevating smolt production to help meet the increased demand for Scottish salmon which has been projected following shortfalls in Chilean production," said Mr Currie. "Instead, we find ourselves in the position of having to redu ce smolt production for this year."