Major Fish Farms Jobs Boost For Western Isles

According to the Aberdeen Press and Journal , several new jobs are being created in the fish farming industry in the Western Isles.

Andrew Rodger of Berneray is setting up a new business growing salmon and mussels in the Sound of Harris. He plans to create seven positions and hopes to harvest about 1,100 tonnes annually.

Lighthouse Caledonia is recruiting six people as it reopens sites on West Loch Roag on Lewis

The sites are being stocked with young smolts this spring. Salmon which are already growing very productively on the sea loch for the firm are due for harvesting in summer.

Restocking of the loch started last year after it was left completely fallow of farmed fish for the first time in 25 years to tackle the sea-lice problem.

The harvested salmon would be processed at the firm's proposed £5million factory being planned at Arnish later this year.

Loch Duart Ltd are also looking for seven people as it expands its operations on Uist. The firm, which moved into the Uists two years ago, and also owns Salar Smokehouse, currently employs around 20 people.It has sites in Loch Carnan, but relocated farming to Lochmaddy after an leak from oil tanks belonging to SSE seeped into the sea loch. Farmed fish in the loch were culled.

Loch Duart has a lease on a base on Lochmaddy Pier and plans to raise salmon production by 50 per cent to reach 5,400 tonnes this year, the Press and Journal said.