Remote Operations Centre returns excellent results

Mowi’s first Remote Operations Centre (ROC) – a centralised control room from which Mowi’s seawater farm sites can be fed and monitored – has been operational in Fort William since June 2024.

ROCs help keep feeding regimes consistent, ensuring that fish can be fed and monitored at all times, including during poor weather when conditions would be too dangerous for feeding by staff on site. ROCs are not only better for fish health and wellbeing, contributing to overall survival and growth, but provide great benefits in regard to sustainability and reducing the amount of feed required.

Loch Leven (located 18km away from the ROC) was the first site from which the ROC was trialled, followed by Gorsten (7km away) and Linnhe (15km away).

By the end of November 2024, the Fort William ROC was fully operational with 12 members of staff, working in two shift rotations (five feeders and one supervisor per shift), monitoring 18 sites.

2025 marked the first full year of operation for the ROC in Fort William. In May, a further two members of staff were employed to free up supervisors to analyse, support and provide training, while also chairing weekly feed meetings with site managers.

Also in May, a trial of Akva Observe software begun, using AI for pellet recognition to aid feeders in making better decisions. Following a successful trial, the technology was rolled out across all sites in October 2025 and has helped achieve improved growth of fish and minimised feed waste.

2025 highlights include:

• Gorsten – 0.98 bFCR (Biological Feed Conversion Ratio) – the best result ever achieved in Mowi Scotland
• Poll na Gille – 1.06 bFCR – the best result achieved at this site
• Bagh Dail Nan Cean (including Port na Cro) – 1.09 bFCR – the best result achieved at this site
• South West Shuna – 1.07 bFCR – the best result achieved at this site

Additionally, all four of these farms achieved >100% RGI (Relative Growth Index) and >85% survival rate.

Commenting on the results, Allan Murdoch, who is in charge of the Fort William ROC, said: “It is fantastic to see such strong results so early on for the ROC. Of course, there has been plenty of learning along the way.

“Challenges including connection issues, differences in stocking densities leading to varying feeding behaviour across sites and differences in fish appetites, have had to be dealt with as we learned this new way of working. I’m proud of the team at the ROC who have embraced the challenge – and the results speak for themselves!

“This technology is not replacing our skilled employees but assisting them. With the help of the technology, they have learned the ideal amount of food to achieve maximum growth, ensuring our fish are in optimal health while reducing wastage and environmental impact.”

Following its success in Fort William, Mowi has invested in a second ROC in Stornoway to feed some of its Western Isles and Skye sites. Although in its infancy, Mowi is confident it will also achieve fantastic results in 2026 and beyond.