Otter Ferry Seafish to significantly expand production of juvenile halibut
£350,000 project will increase capacity at Loch Fyne site
Argyll aquaculture company Otter Ferry Seafish Limited has secured up to £175,225 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards the £350,000 cost of an expansion project that will safeguard around 17 jobs and create two new jobs.
The work involves the redevelopment of the company’s existing marine hatchery facilities on the shore of Loch Fyne, including new tanks, controls, lighting, water circulation and energy efficiency measures to significantly increase the production of juvenile halibut, HIE reports on its website.
In November last year, Otter Ferry Seafish was acquired by Norway and Canada halibut and wolffish farmer Amar Seafoods, which has been buying juvenile halibut from the company for two years.
£2.5m business
Continuing to supply juveniles to Amar in Norway and Canada is forecast to generate around £2.5 million a year for the company. As well as supplying Norway and Canada, juveniles are now being retained for on-growing in Scotland.
Otter Ferry produced farmed halibut at its Gigha Halibut land-based flow-through facility on Gigha from 2006 until 2023, when it announced that was ceasing production on the island.
Strong potential
Liam Orr, head of business growth with HIE’s Argyll and the Islands team, said: “The food and drink sector is a major feature of the Argyll economy and Otter Ferry Seafish is a key part of this. We’ve worked with the company for a number of years now during which it has progressed strongly and shown great promise in innovation and research.
“Its potential for further growth is also very strong and under the new ownership of Amar Seafoods we can be optimistic about ongoing investment that will ensure sustainability and safeguard employment.”
Otter Ferry Seafish managing director Alastair Barge said: “We have worked closely and benefited from a close relationship with the business growth team at HIE Argyll and Islands. Their specialist advice, targeted research and assistance with the cost of expansion has helped greatly in securing the future halibut production in Scotland.”
