Mowi Scotland has inaugurated a Remote Operations Centre (ROC) at its Farms Office in Fort William, aimed at centralizing and optimizing feeding strategies for its seawater farm sites.
The ROC enhances consistency in feeding regimes and ensures continuous monitoring and feeding, even during adverse weather conditions.
Currently, the ROC monitors and feeds three farms: Leven (18 km away), Linnhe (15 km away), and Gorsten (7 km away). The plan is to include the four Croabh Haven sites (75 km away) and Kingairloch (35 km away) by the end of August, with the long-term goal of integrating all mainland seawater farms.
The ROC operates with a team of 12 operators working in shifts. Each operator manages the feeding of three to four farms using pellet recognition technology.
David Horne, the first employee at the ROC, highlighted the efficiency and safety improvements offered by the technology.
“I have been working in the centre for a month now and have been impressed with the technology. There are six of us working on each shift and each operator will feed three to four farms, with the aid of pellet recognition technology, when we’re fully operational,” he told Mowi in-house magazine, The Scoop.
“We work closely with the staff on the farms to ensure everything is working as it should and if any issues arise at sea with the cameras. Constant communication between us helps keep everyone on the farms safe and our fish well looked after and healthy.
“At the centre itself, the set-up is great and every effort has been made to make it as comfortable as possible for the operators. We’re currently working 12-hour shifts, but this will taper off to eight-hour shifts as the days get shorter. Working on a week on/week off rota means that we have a great work-life balance, and I look forward to getting more people trained up and working in the team soon.”
Kris Wright, Team Leader for the ROC, emphasized the substantial benefits for feeding strategies, fish health, and staff safety.
“As with any new systems or infrastructure, there are some learning curves along the way as we get fully up and running but the ROC will provide huge benefits to our feeding strategies, fish health and wellbeing, and for the health and safety of our farming staff.
“I worked on farms myself for eight years so it’s great to be able to work with them through the ROC and the exciting technology we have here. I’m also really enjoying the great work-life balance the role gives me. For anyone who is interested in getting started in the aquaculture industry but isn’t sure whether it is for them, working in the ROC is a great opportunity.”
