Marine Harvest to invest in fish farms at Scotland

Marine Harvest plans to invest GBP40 million (US$64 million) in a new generation of fish farms in Scotland to boost production and meet growing European demand.

The company plans to build four new salmon centres in remote and exposed locations, and is currently monitoring 12 sites around the Minch, in the Western Isles, Highland and Argyll and Bute council areas.

Marine Harvest will choose four of the best sites and submit planning applications to the local authorities.

The sites being considered are around the islands of Eriskay, Barra, Sandray, Pabbay, Mingulay, Berneray, Canna, Rum, Muck and Coll.

Marine Harvest also plans a shore base at Barra.

Managing director Alan Sutherland said the company have been looking at opportunities and believe the future of fish farming lies further offshore.

He said that is possible if they use residential fish farms similar to the systems the company had used in Norway and British Columbia.

The company aims to meet growing demand for farmed Scottish salmon across Europe. Consumption of fish has been rising by between six percent and eight percent each year.

Marine Harvest Scotland has a turnover of GBP120 million (US$192 million) and hopes to increase this to GBP180 million (US$288 million) with the introduction of the new farms.