The Scottish Salmon Company and Nofitech partner on RAS technology

The Scottish Salmon Company (SSC) has signed a contract with recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) technology company Nofitech that will support the company in transforming its approach to salmon farming.

The agreement is part of a £49million investment to create a state-of-the-art RAS unit at its Applecross site in Wester Ross.

RAS technology is an indoor land-based aquaculture system which allows fish to be reared for longer in freshwater tanks before being moved to marine sites. Greater control of the freshwater rearing environment means farmers can produce larger smolt - juvenile salmon - reducing the marine production cycle, which in turn reduces the biological risk of rearing in the marine environment.

Milestone

Ian Laister, SSC managing director, said: ‘This contract marks the first important milestone in our commitment to incorporate RAS technology across all our freshwater production, which is fundamental to our growth strategy.

‘Nofitech’s experience in this field will ensure SSC is at the leading edge of RAS technology not only at Applecross but at future freshwater sites.’

Robert Hundstad, chief executive officer of Nofitech, said: ‘I am delighted the Scottish Salmon Company has chosen us as a partner for its comprehensive, exciting and future-oriented RAS programme.

‘Nofitech has, from a strategic perspective, chosen to work only with the most experienced and solid players in the industry and our co-operation with The Scottish Salmon Company and Bakkafrost falls well into this direction.’

The programme at Applecross is part of a commitment by SSC’s parent company, Bakkafrost, to invest more than £40 million a year in Scotland over the next five years, creating and retaining value in rural Scotland.