First Barcaldine smolts transferred to sea

THE first smolts from Scottish Sea Farms’ new £55 million Barcaldine hatchery have been safely transferred to sea pens.

The smolts, which arrived at Barcaldine as eggs in January 2019, were hatched and reared using a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS).

They had an average weight of 160g – more than double that of smolts grown by the company when using traditional hatchery methods.

Scottish Sea Farms’ freshwater manager, PålTangvik, said: ‘The new hatchery has given us greater control over key factors, including water quality, oxygen levels, temperature, light and speed of flow, meaning we have been able to ensure the best growing environment for the salmon.

‘The result is bigger, more robust smolts that will be better able to withstand the natural challenges of the marine environment.

‘We will also be able to shorten the time these salmon will spend at sea by up to two months, which will reduce their exposure to these challenges and increase survival rates.’

The Barcaldine facility, which includes four incubation units and four hatcheries, has taken more than two years to build and is due to have its official opening in 2020.

‘We’ve taken care to make sure we get it right at every stage,’ said managing director Jim Gallagher.