Scottish Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson has been impressed by aquaculture businesses based in the Hebrides, during a series of engagements undertaken this week.
Mr Stevenson has spent time with aquaculture companies while he also met with representatives of the Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust.
The Minister visited the Scottish Salmon Company, including the company’s newly refurbished processing plant in Stornoway, the Geocrab freshwater Hatchery in South Harris, and the company's farm at Loch Roag. The Minister also toured the facilities of Hebridean Mussels in Uig - one of Scotland's leading mussel producers - and visited Marine Harvest's facilities at Loch Erisort.
Mr Stevenson said:
"Across Scotland the aquaculture industry is growing and, particularly in remote rural communities, it is making an important local contribution, both economic and social. That's certainly the case in the Hebrides where it has a key role to play, as I have discovered over the past few days.
"Scotland has a well-deserved reputation for producing high quality farmed salmon and last year the industry accounted for some 40% of all our food exports - worth over £400 million. Other markets, such as mussels, have great potential and the clean waters off the West Coast of Scotland are perfect for this fast-growing industry.
"My visits in Lewis and Harris to The Scottish Salmon Company, Hebridean Mussels and Marine Harvest have been highly rewarding and informative, while I also held a productive meeting with the Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust. These visits have emphasised the importance of balancing growth of the aquaculture industry with the need to safeguard the wider marine environment."
