Mowi bets on remote Scottish island with multimillion-pound investment
Mowi, Scotland’s largest aquaculture company, has acquired Sanda Island off the southern tip of the Kintyre peninsula, unveiling plans for a salmon farm and a broader initiative to revitalise the uninhabited island through tourism and infrastructure development.
The Norwegian-owned company, a global leader in farmed salmon, intends to establish a high-energy salmon farm off Sanda’s east coast, creating 14 jobs across two shifts, including apprentice positions. Mowi’s purchase includes the island’s former hotel, residential properties, Campbeltown shipyard, and Sandbank House.
Alongside its aquaculture expansion, Mowi is committing a multimillion-pound investment towards restoring Sanda’s hotel and housing, with plans to appoint a caretaker couple or family to oversee its hospitality operations. The company also aims to introduce yacht moorings to attract visitors and improve transport links with the mainland. Further initiatives, including potential rewilding and biodiversity projects, are under consideration.
“We have the opportunity to do something very special with Sanda Island,” said Ben Hadfield, Mowi’s chief operating officer for farming in Scotland, Ireland, the Faroes and Canada East. “We already have experience of developing successful fish farms off the coast of Scottish islands such as Rum, Muck, and Colonsay. Our priority now will be to consult with the communities of the area and develop a comprehensive biodiversity plan for the island.”
Mowi snaps up tiny Scottish island where nuclear submarine ran aground
The move comes as Scotland’s aquaculture industry shifts towards more open-water locations, responding to environmental concerns and the Scottish Parliament’s ongoing scrutiny of salmon farming.
The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee has urged the sector to prioritise sustainable expansion, particularly in high-energy offshore sites. Mowi argues that Sanda Island provides the ideal conditions, offering natural protection while benefiting from tidal currents suited to salmon growth.
In a further vote of confidence in remote coastal operations, Mowi has also acquired Fladda-chuain, an uninhabited island three miles off the northern tip of Skye, with development plans yet to be disclosed.
Mowi has initiated early-stage consultations with stakeholders and the local community regarding its Sanda Island proposals. The company is also seeking interest from potential employees for both aquaculture and tourism-related roles.
