Over 480,000 salmon smolts have been introduced to their new home at Wyre, Orkney this month and the first harvests are expected at the end of 2016.
The site has created five new jobs locally and will significantly increase production of the quality salmon farmed in Orkney waters.
The Scottish Sea Farms investment of £2.6 million has also stimulated earnings for numerous Scottish suppliers and Orkney based companies including Fusion Marine, Knox Nets, Leask Marine and Northwards Ltd.
Jim Gallagher, Managing Director, Scottish Sea Farms, said: “This is good news for both Scottish Sea Farms and the local community. This site at Wyre, made up of 12 x 100m cages, will help to secure the long-term future of our Eday site and increased Orkney salmon sales could now potentially reach £26 million in both the UK and international markets.
“We want to continue to build relationships locally and are bringing skilled employment with training packages to Orkney. Over the past nine months the five new employees have been supported with extensive training on our sites in Orkney and working with the local college. Our Heart of the Community Trust is also there to support community initiatives that make a real difference to local people’s lives.”
