M&S has named Scottish Sea Farms’ team at Wyre, Orkney, as its Outstanding Producer of the year in its Farming for the Future Awards 2018.
The 1,909t capacity farm, which was established by Scottish Sea Farms in 2015 to help meet the growing demand for responsibly farmed salmon including M&S Lochmuir salmon, rears its own salmon from smolt to adulthood and acts as a nursery for young salmon destined for neighbouring Eday where conditions are more tidal.
Wyre farm manager Phil Boardman, who until recently was also farm manager of Eday, said: “Both farm teams – Wyre and Eday – are proud of the results achieved and rightly so as both have worked hand in hand to create the best environments in which to rear our salmon. We have a really great mix of people, some of whom are locals while others have moved into the area bringing new skills and knowledge.”
Containment system
The team’s efficiency was one of four awards criteria that set Wyre apart in its category. Judges noted its work to develop a predator resistant containment system which has reduced the number of seal attacks; and its involvement in testing a new low frequency ADD thought to operate outside the normal hearing range of cetaceans such as whales and porpoises
Wyre has also deployed easy-clean nets which don’t require copper-based anti-fouling, helping preserve the sea’s own balance of this naturally occurring heavy metal; and invested in training and development to build skills within its team.
This combined, has meant the last crop has resulted in no escapes, no seals shot, no medicinal bath treatments and low mortalities.
Matthew Jackson will now take over as farm manager of Wyre, enabling Mr Boardman to focus on Eday.
