Now Gael Force expands to Canada

FAST growing Inverness based Gael Force Group is planning to expand its aquaculture business overseas, by establishing a base in Newfoundland in Canada.

The company, which revealed a £7 million increase in turnover and a quadrupling of its profits last year, said the move forms part of its strategy to enter overseas aquaculture markets.

The announcement follows research into the current and future opportunities on the eastern side of Canada.

Gael Force will supply customers in the region, which has targets to double salmon production, with a full product range, including pen and barge moorings, plastic fish pens, concrete and steel feed barges, offshore feeding systems and pellet detection software, and underwater technology including cameras and lighting.

The company announced the move as managing director Stewart Graham was due to address Newfoundland’s Cold Harvest aquaculture conference in St John’s.

Graham, who was instrumental in driving forward Scotland’s plans to double aquaculture production and co-chairs the Aquaculture Industry Leadership Group, offered an insight into Scottish aquaculture’s growth vision.

Marketing manager Marc Wilson said: ‘Our visits to Atlantic Canada have revealed a commitment to aquaculture with a real appetite to grow the industry substantially.

‘Every person we have spoken to has welcomed the prospect of Gael Force making an inward investment in Newfoundland.

‘We fully understand the need for us as a supplier to have a highly skilled and dedicated service team on the ground in Canada to be ready to respond to the specific needs of those customers, and that is something we are totally prepared to commit to.’