An £8 million contract to build a major new smolt facility for Marine Harvest has been awarded to the infrastructure, support services and construction group Robertson.

The new smolt recirculation unit at Lochailort will sit on a site which has a long history in aquaculture as it was at this location that the first farmed salmon was grown in the early 1970s.

The 150,000 sq ft building will house 12 staff – six of them in the hatchery. It will provide Atlantic salmon smolts which are then transferred to Marine Harvest sites across Scotland to grow into full sized salmon.

More than 100 people will be employed during construction. Given the area’s beauty and environmental sensitivity, particular attention will be paid to minimising disruption. With road safety issues a priority for the local community, all transport and deliveries will be planned and programmed to reduce traffic.


Frank Reid, Regional Managing Director for Robertson said: "Scottish salmon is one of the country’s greatest modern day success stories and we are delighted that we have been chosen to build this impressive new facility. We have the same passion for delivering high quality as Marine Harvest and look forward to working in partnership with them to deliver this project."

The new building is part of Marine Harvest’s planned expansion in Scotland which will see production increase by 50%.

Alan Sutherland, managing director of Marine Harvest Scotland said: "We are investing a total of £16m in this new facility as part of a major expansion in Scotland to meet demand. Scottish salmon is sought after all over the world and new markets, such as China, are emerging all the time. We need to increase production to meet the needs of customers who recognise the high quality of the salmon we produce.

"Lochailort is the birthplace of fish farming in Scotland so it is fitting that this is the location for our new smolt facility."

The Lochailort recirculation unit will provide smolts for new fish farms being planned off the West coast and the Islands as part of Marine Harvest Scotland’s expansion plans.

(GK)