APPLECROSS’ JOURNEY TO A HIGH-TECH FUTURE
Local Jobs Created as The Scottish Salmon Company Develop Cutting-edge Aquaculture Hub
The aquaculture industry has long been synonymous with remote and rural Scotland. The Scottish Salmon Company’s (SSC) has selected Applecross for its £ m investment into the first of its kind and cuttingedge ‘recirculating aquaculture system’ (RAS) facility. A first for the tester Ross community.
RAS technology is an indoor land-based aquaculture system which allows fish to be reared longer in freshwater tanks allowing them to grow into a larger smolt before being moved to a salt water marine site. Releasing a larger fish into the seawater phase shifts the balance of risk, supports fish healthy and can help to increase the consistency of supply.
The RAS project will create 30 rural jobs, giving existing staff an opportunity to upskill and retrain, and attracting fresh and diverse talent to the business.
The Highlands and Islands nterprise (HI ) and Marine Scotland backed project will include innovative husbandry, enhanced smolt testing and vaccination methods to build on our first class fish welfare standards fish welfare.
The Applecross facility has sustainability at the heart of its development. The ambition of the RAS project is to reduce waste by 0 per cent, to use 100 per cent sustainable power and to massively reduce the water used in the process. Hydro, solar, recycled material, and heat recovery systems will all be utilised to reduce impact on the environment.
Once complete the RAS facility at Applecross will be the largest and most sustainable of its kind in Scotland and aims to produce 50,000 tonnes of Salmon by 0 .
Ian Laister, Managing Director at The Scottish Salmon Company, explains: “Scottish Salmon is the UK’s biggest export and creates sought after, high quality and sustainable jobs in rural communities. SSC’s investment at Applecross, and plans for an additional two RAS facilities, are a game changer not only for the business but salmon farming in Scotland.”
Owen Davies, Hatchery Manager at Applecross, said: “We have recruited both locally and nationally to hire people with a wide variety of expertise. Applecross, a purpose built multi-million-pound facility, will provide highly skilled jobs in the rural community. SSC is offering employment to local people who in the past, given the decline of traditional industries, have had to move further afield for work.”
Current vacancies include a iologist and Freshwater Optimiser.
iologists provide advice and conduct surveillance on fish health and have the opportunity to participate in research projects within their area of expertise.
The Freshwater Optimiser role is analytical and involves providing insight and guidance to the Freshwater Management team to enable the coordination and optimisation of freshwater production.
SSC offers benefits including generous relocation assistance, a ‘Friends & Family Introduction Scheme’ with a £500 payment, access to discount schemes, numerous internal opportunities for promotions, and extensive training and professional development activities.
SSC looks forward to making a positive impact on the local Applecross community in the future.
For more information about career opportunities at SSC please visit: www.scottishsalmon.com/ workwithus/ currentvacancies or email: workwithus@scottishsalmon.com