Lochaber pupils explore salmon careers

The event on 2 October introduced students to a variety of job opportunities in aquaculture, a key industry that supports around 1,000 local jobs and contributes £224 million annually to the north-west Highlands economy.

Organised by Salmon Scotland, Mowi Scotland, and Developing the Young Workforce West Highland, the event featured representatives from local employers such as Bakkafrost Scotland, Scottish Sea Farms, AKVA, and Gael Force. Students learned about diverse career paths, including roles for technicians, farm assistants, and positions in finance and IT.

Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said the day offered a ‘smorgasbord of careers, such as technicians, farm assistants, and positions in finance and IT. “The farm-raised Scottish salmon sector is the engine of the Highlands and islands economy offering well-paid, year-round jobs to complement other, more seasonal, sectors,” he said.

“We hope we have given the pupils food for thought about a career in Salmon farming and hope to welcome some of these young people into our companies in the future.”

Mowi Scotland provided a free lunch of salmon, raising £900 for Lochaber High School. A tanker from Ferguson Transport showcased the logistics involved in fish transportation, while interactive activities included a live feed from a fish farm and the game ‘I am MOWI’, which guided students in discovering what interests them.

Fergus Strachan, an S2 pupil at Lochaber High School, said he really enjoyed the event. “I liked the fish dissection, the engineering stalls, the lorry outside, but the best bit was definitely eating at the salmon wagon,” he said.