Salmon industry trio strengthen SAIC board

The Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) has bolstered its board with a trio of new appointments representing three of Scotland’s four large-volume salmon producers.

The new board members are Anne Anderson, head of sustainability and development at Scottish Sea Farms (SSF); Su Cox, communications and business development director at Bakkafrost Scotland; and Hervé Migaud, director of health, welfare and biology at Mowi Scotland. Together they bring a wealth of aquaculture leadership experience, as well as academic and regulatory expertise.

Before joining Scotland’s second-largest salmon farmer, SSF, in 2021, Anne Anderson spent 22 years with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), latterly as chief officer of compliance and beyond. She then left public sector for private to take up the role of sustainability director with Salmon Scotland (then Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation) where she led a range of strategic projects including the Scottish Salmon Sustainability Charter.

35 years in aquaculture

Su Cox has more than 35 years of experience in the Scottish aquaculture sector, working for different salmon producers. She is currently responsible for public affairs and stakeholder engagement at Bakkafrost Scotland, formerly the Scottish Salmon Company, and is also chair of Scottish Quality Salmon.

Hervé Migaud is a former head of the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture (IoA). He joined Scotland’s biggest salmon farmer, Mowi Scotland, in April last year to oversee fish health and welfare. He remains an honorary professor at the IoA and was head of the production research group until 2022. Migaud was also previously president of the European Aquaculture Society.

David Gregory, SAIC chairman, said: “The new appointments represent a valuable commitment from Scotland’s biggest fish farming companies to the sustainable future of the sector. Anne, Su, and Hervé are senior leaders in their respective fields and bring a wealth of experience and expertise to SAIC’s board. In turn, they will help the innovation centre to continue delivering industry-relevant, cutting-edge research that can both minimise the environmental footprint and increase the economic impact of aquaculture.”

Practical solutions

Anderson said: “SAIC is a key force in the drive to find practical, effective solutions to sector challenges – from bringing together the right minds for the task, to championing the need for innovative projects in which emerging concepts can be trialled and tested – and I look forward to the opportunity to help shape this vital work over coming years.”

Cox said: “It’s an honour to join the SAIC board and represent Bakkafrost Scotland. Sustainability is at the heart of our business, so our values are aligned to reduce the impact we have on the planet and increase the economic impact we have as an industry. Innovation and collaboration are key to future success.”

Improving resilience

Migaud said he was looking forward to joining the SAIC board.

“Innovation has always been central throughout my career as a scientist and now as an industry director, to improve the sustainability and resilience of the sector,” said the scientist. “SAIC plays an important role towards meeting this goal by bringing together academia and industry leaders.”

SAIC is one of seven innovation centres supported by the Scottish Government. It is currently involved in 13 active projects in partnership with academia and industry. These include the testing of novel health ingredients in salmon feed against multi-mucosal disturbance and stress-induced immune suppression, improving gill health in farmed salmon, and improving genetics and breeding for four UK aquaculture sectors including salmon, lobster, flat oyster and lumpfish.