Loch Long Salmon (LLS) has identified five sites across Scotland that will be used for semi-closed farming systems in a bid to exclude sea lice, catch organic waste and improve the health and welfare of the stock.
The joint venture salmon farming company, established by Trimara Services in partnership with Simply Blue Aquaculture, has chosen Beinn Reithe at Loch Long as its first site where fish will be grown from smolt transfer through to harvest size.
“We are very excited to be bringing semi-closed farming technology to Scotland,” said Stewart Hawthorn, director of LLS and former farming director at Dawnfresh. “These systems will eliminate sea lice by preventing the parasites from establishing a breeding population on the farmed salmon.
“Our philosophy is that we should eliminate rather than treat the problem – and we can do that with these systems.”
The farming enclosures separate the fish from the ocean environment by surrounding the farm with an impermeable bag. Deep water free from juvenile sea lice and plankton is pumped into the farming enclosure via energy-efficient low-head pumps.
Furthermore, the system will capture the organic waste, pump it ashore where it can then be used as an on-land fertiliser or in anaerobic digestion energy production.
LLS has engaged corporate finance advisory firm, Johnston Carmichael, to help raise the first tranche of £3m to support the initial phase of development.
