Salmon farming proposed as new pillar of Falklands economy.
A proposal to establish salmon farming in the Falkland Islands is currently under review by the Falkland Islands Government (FIG), with supporters suggesting the initiative could represent a new era of economic diversification for the British Overseas Territory.
Unity Marine, a joint venture between Falklands-based fishing company Fortuna and Danish aquaculture consultancy F-Land ApS, has submitted a plan to develop Atlantic salmon farming infrastructure across the archipelago.
The company describes the Falklands as offering geographic conditions similar to established salmon farming regions such as the Faroe Islands, Shetland and Orkney, including sheltered bays, fjord-like coastlines and consistently cool sea temperatures.
The proposal follows an earlier scoping phase and is now the subject of a public consultation, expected to report later this year. Should the government conclude the project is viable, licences could be granted on a case-by-case basis, although Unity Marine is currently the only company pursuing such a development.
The company has committed £5 million to the exploration phase, with over half of the expenditure to be invested locally. Its plans include eight farm sites between 3–7 km offshore on both sides of East Falklands, where the territory’s main military base is located. Two recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) smolt facilities are also proposed, one at Mare Harbour near the base, and another at Newhaven on the island’s west coast.
Unity Marine managing director James Wallace said the company is seeking enabling legislation similar to that introduced for the hydrocarbons sector. “The Falklands are ideally suited to salmon farming, and a vibrant sector would diversify the economy, contribute to the public purse through taxes and licence fees, and help create future security and prosperity for the community,” he said.
If approved, the company aims to eventually produce 50,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon using conventional sea pens supported by remote feeding barges. Eggs and feed would be imported, and power would be supplied via two wind turbines and a back-up generator, with solar energy also under consideration.
The company said it would pursue Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification and deploy Tasmania-style Fortress pens with anti-predator nets to deter sea lions.
Wallace said the initiative could address depopulation in outlying areas, known locally as Camp, by providing long-term employment and incentives for younger islanders to return after overseas education—drawing a parallel with the Faroese experience in Denmark.
Public opinion is expected to play a key role in the outcome of the consultation, with Wallace noting “some vocal opposition countered by a more traditional Falklands outlook, which sees natural resources, used responsibly, as the lifeblood of our remote nation.”
The Falkland Islands has a population of around 3,600. Fishing is currently the main contributor to GDP, which stood at £278.6 million in 2022. The territory will hold its next general election in November 2025.