Gill health challenges hit Loch Duart earnings

Loch Duart, the independent salmon farming company based in Sutherland and the Hebrides, has filed its accounts for 2018/2019 (ended March 31 2019).

Loch Duart saw its pre-tax profit fall to £1.1m from £2.6 the year before. Annual turnover was £34.6m – down from £42.4m from the previous year.

During 2018/19 increasing gill health challenges – exacerbated by the long hot summer of 2018, with negligible rainfall – affected the performance at one of its farm sites in particular. This impacted turnover for the financial year, according to a press release from the company.

Reduced pre-tax profits reflect this and budgeted-for, reduced harvest volumes which were a natural consequence of stocking plans made.

The company is delighted that the commitment of the staff to overcome the challenging summer of 2018 has allowed it to pay a company-wide bonus again, albeit smaller than the prior year.

Loch Duart is an independent salmon farmer based in North West Scotland. Producing more than 5,000 tonnes per year, it employs 115 people in the Hebrides and Sutherland. The salmon is supplied to leading hotels, restaurants and retailers at home and abroad.

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