Final organic salmon harvested from disbanded site Loch Ewe. But salmon farmer seeking permissions for the deployment of four Neptune tanks in Scotland.
In a press release, Mowi writes that building on successful trials of Neptune sea tanks at its operations in Norway, it is now exploring the potential for implementation of the technology at suitable locations in Scotland.
The news follows that its Loch Ewe site is now empty and that it will relinquish the lease with the Crown Estate and close operations at the site. The final harvest of organic salmon from the farm was sold at market early November.
Mowi announced the closure of its Loch Ewe site in July 2019. At the time, the salmon farmer wrote that this was due to the enclosed nature of the sea lochs where the farms are situated and the sites’ proximity to sensitive wild salmonid habitats.
It is now focusing on seeking permission to install four closed-containment fish farms off the west coast of Scotland.
“The solid tank, built by Aquafarm Equipment, enables fish farmers to better control water inputs and outputs, thereby avoiding intake of potentially harmful phytoplankton and sea lice and eliminating interactions of farm-raised and wild fish,” wrote Mowi.
The Neptune tank, measuring 40m in diameter, will grow salmon after their initial freshwater phase – from 120 to 800 grams – before on growing at sea pens. Implementation of a Neptune tank is estimated to reduce the duration of a salmon grown in net pens by eight months.
The company has approached Wester Ross Area Salmon Fishery Board to discuss the potential for installation of one tank at Loch Ewe, and will soon approach stakeholders at other locations. Mowi will seek permissions for the deployment of four tanks in Scotland.
