Mowi Scotland to close Loch Arkaig freshwater farm after 35 years

SCOTLAND – Mowi Scotland has announced plans to cease operations at its Loch Arkaig freshwater farm in April 2025, marking the site’s end of more than three decades of aquaculture. 

While this closure is disappointing, the company has ensured that staff will retain their jobs, with operations relocated to Loch Awe.  

Loch Arkaig, one of Mowi’s oldest freshwater farms, has been pivotal in the company’s efforts toward sustainable aquaculture. However, the inability to secure a lease extension has necessitated the closure. 

Reflecting on the farm’s legacy, Mowi highlighted the extensive data collected over the years, showcasing its sustainable practices and environmental stewardship in freshwater loch farming.  

Operations will now shift approximately 149 kilometres south to two sites at Loch Awe—Tervine and Braevallich—acquired from Dawnfresh Seafoods in February 2023. 

These former trout farms will undergo significant upgrades early this year to accommodate Mowi’s production goals. 

Plans include installing 60-meter circumference pens, modern feeding systems, and improved shore facilities to support smolt inputs and transfers.  

The company aims to produce a combined total of five million fish annually at these sites. A key aspect of this move will involve stocking large vaccinated parr, allowing for the growth of larger smolts—averaging 250 grams—for operations at Loch Etive.  

Mowi’s decision underscores the evolving challenges and opportunities in aquaculture, and the shift to Loch Awe reflects the company’s commitment to innovation and sustainable production methods.  

Meanwhile, Mowi Feed recently achieved ASC certification for its facilities in Kyleakin, Scotland, and Valsneset, Norway, leading the way in advancing aquaculture practices, ensuring that the transition strengthens its operational efficiency while maintaining its environmental and sustainability commitments. 

The Kyleakin plant, located on the Isle of Skye, and the Valsneset site in central-western Norway are state-of-the-art facilities that produce feed for salmon farming.  

These certifications are significant for Mowi’s operations across Europe, ensuring compliance with ASC standards at their certified farms in Scotland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands. 

This step is crucial as ASC-certified farms must source feed from ASC-certified mills by October 31, 2025, to retain their certifications.  

The ASC Feed Standard is a robust framework that promotes transparency and responsibility throughout the aquaculture supply chain.

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