Builders start work on Scottish Sea Farms hatchery
Work has begun on Scottish Sea Farms’ £37 million onshore hatchery at Barcaldine, near Oban.
The hatchery will increase capacity and deliver significant sustainability benefits to the company, supporting salmon farms on the west coast of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland.
Construction firm Robertson Northern has now started work on the £13m freshwater Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) for SSF, which will rear smolts to help meet growing global demand.
When completed, the overall hatchery will raise the company’s smolt production from five million to up to 11 million annually, creating 25 new jobs for the area.
Significant investment
SSF managing director Jim Gallagher told Scottish Construction Now! website: “This is a significant investment in our freshwater capacity and is a vital component to helping us meet the world’s increasing demand for premium Scottish salmon.
“Robertson Northern have demonstrated that they have the right skills to help deliver what is a landmark development for Scottish Sea Farms and for Scottish aquaculture.”
Frank Reid, managing director of Robertson Northern, said: “This is a revolutionary development in every sense of the word and an exciting development for both Scottish Sea Farms and the local economy.
“As well as creating jobs when complete, we will be using the skilled local workforce whenever we can throughout the development of this facility.”
The first fish reared in the facility are expected to be transferred to marine farms in 2019.
SSF said the investment was part of plans to invest a total of £70m in improving and maintaining its existing sites and acquiring new ones over the next few years. The company, jointly owned by Norwegian salmon farmers Salmar and Leroy, has hatcheries at Couldoran in Wester Ross and Knock, Isle of Mull.
