Mowi proposes new feeding system for its Wester Ross farm

Wester Ross Fisheries, owned by Mowi, has applied to install a new feeding system at its farm on Loch Broom, near Ullapool.

The new system will comprise ten silos of 1.7m wide by 2.5m long by 1.8m high, mounted on the walkway of the assembly of square steel pens at the Corry farm.

Wester Ross, which was taken over by Mowi in 2022, has traditionally relied on handfeeding and air-pressurised cannons powered by a compressor.

Underwater

The planning application, with Highland Council, stipulates that PVC hoses will run from the silos to distribute feed underwater.

The application, validated on April 27, is an environmental impact assessment (EIA) screening request.

A noise impact assessment was also submitted with the application and found that the proposed system was expected to reduce noise from the site.

Previous proposal

A previous proposal to locate a feed barge in Loch Broom was withdrawn by the company two years ago following local opposition.

Wester Ross first established a salmon farm on Loch Broom in the 1970s and still markets its fish under the Wester Ross Salmon brand name.

It continues to farm salmon in a small-scale, artisanal fashion, using its bespoke feed formulation that contains a higher proportion of marine ingredients derived from fish trimmings, and still achieves the rich flesh colour associated with feeding naturally produced carotenoids.

According to Mowi’s report for the fourth quarter of 2025, Wester Ross salmon was popular in the US market and commands a strong premium price.