Worth approximately £645,000, the order for 16 Triton 100m circumference salmon pens and associated equipment has provided a significant boost for Fusion Marine, who are an important local employer. The new site at Gometra will produce 2,000 tonnes of fish and provide up to four full-time local jobs.
Triton is a new generation large fish farm pen specially developed to meet the demanding conditions found in open sea fish farm sites. According to the company, these robust polyethylene pens provide the highest possible levels of stock containment and offer a safe and stable working platform for fish farm operatives.
The pens for SSC were towed into position by the vessel Asteria in a two-stage delivery to Gometra from Fusion Marine’s coastal manufacturing base at Barcaldine near Oban. At the same time, Fusion Marine organised for five redundant 70m circumference pens from SSC’s nearby site at Tuath to be towed back to Barcaldine by the Knox Marine operated vessel Felsted for recycling. This recycled material was then partly used in the manufacture of the safety decking for the eight Triton pens destined for the second phase delivery to Gometra.
Iain Forbes of Fusion Marine said: “We greatly appreciate the commitment of The Scottish Salmon Company to supporting local businesses such as Fusion Marine. Over the years we have forged a close working relationship with SSC that is benefiting local communities throughout the Highlands and Islands.
“We are especially delighted to have utilised some of the recycled material from old pens in the manufacture of the safety decking for the new pens for Gometra, which has helped to create an efficient closed loop of recycling, manufacture and supply.”
Stewart McLelland, CEO of SSC, said: “Working with local companies is extremely important to us. Fusion Marine understands our needs and how we operate in the local waters, which is hugely significant when it comes to product quality and delivery. The arrival of the new pens and removal of the old ones has gone without a hitch, allowing us to continue to make good progress at Gometra.”
