First post smolts transferred from Loch Etive

The first transfer of post smolts from Loch Etive at the end of September marks a significant milestone for Mowi Scotland.

Having been granted consents to grow post smolt salmon in Loch Etive in late 2023, the first post smolts have been transferred to Muck.

Speaking about the post smolt transfer, Ben Hadfield, COO Mowi Farming Scotland, Ireland, Faroes and Atlantic Canada, said: “The post smolt salmon were in excellent condition. I am proud of everything we have achieved so far at Loch Etive which is pioneering best practice in aquaculture.

“Not only are we proving that there is a sustainable alternative to land-based post smolt production, we are also using new sea lice modelling to achieve greater monitoring and control of sea lice, combined with a new approach to fallowing, all of which is resulting in healthy post smolts ready to continue growing at sea.”

Mowi Scotland acquired the farms at Loch Etive as part of its acquisition of Dawnfresh Farming, Scotland’s largest trout producer, in 2023.

Previously, individual sites at Loch Etive were fallowed at different times but Mowi’s new production plan includes six-month growth cycles to enable farms to synchronise fallow (empty) periods throughout the whole loch system. This break in production combined with the loch’s naturally brackish waters has helped to maintain a low sea lice population in Loch Etive (sea lice do not flourish in low salinity).

Loch Etive is also at the forefront of reducing its carbon footprint with the introduction of refurbished Sea-Cap feed barges which feature sound proofing, a lower height and visual profile, as well as reduced emissions and noise.

Click here to see a video of the post smolts being transferred from Loch Etive.