ONE of Scotland's main salmon farming firms has launched a £3.7 million expansion to keep pace with demand from home and abroad.
Loch Duart Ltd (LDL), based in north-west Sutherland, has upgraded its hatchery and is taking over three sea loch sites in the Uists, which will increase production by 50 per cent and create 19 jobs over three years.
The firm, which already has n
ine farm sites in Eddrachillies Bay near Scourie, produces 3,600 tonnes of fresh whole gutted salmon a year, about 2.5 per cent of total Scottish production, distributed to both UK and overseas markets.
The company commands a premium price through a range of welfare and environmental initiatives such as full-year fallows, sustainable feed for the fish, polyculture and "Freedom Food" approval.
The expansion plans have been given £742,000 of support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Alan Balfour, an LDL director, said: "The expansion project to the Outer Hebrides is a challenge for our company but one that is vital if we are going to meet demand for Loch Duart salmon which is growing all over the world."
Archie Macdonald, HIE's area manager based in the Outer Hebrides, said: "The investment in both the hatchery and the new farm sites will allow the company to provide accountability for its product through every stage of development – a sought-after requirement at the top end of the market.
"This is an excellent company with high environmental standards and we are delighted to assist it in its drive to become even more successful."
Keith Muir, account manager for HIE in the Caithness and Sutherland area team, said the two projects would make an important contribution to supporting employment and population levels in remote and economically fragile areas.
He said: "The development will also help to protect the future of north-west Sutherland – it is one of our most fragile areas and has few alternative employment opportunities."
This year Loch Duart won one of Britain's most coveted commercial awards, the Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade.
LDL has previously revealed it was testing super-strong material used in bullet-proof armour to try to stop salmon escaping.
Two trials are testing a new material, Dyneema, against the weather and predators such as seals, which can damage conventional cages.
The high-strength, lightweight polyethylene fibre is already used in ropes, cables and nets in the fishing, shipping and offshore industries, as well as in bullet-resistant armour and clothing for police and the military.
In 2003 LDL lost 18,000 young salmon that escaped from pens in Calbha Bay, south of Scourie, costing £180,000 in lost revenue.
