Bakkafrost nets innovation award for Applecross RAS facility

Salmon producer Bakkafrost Scotland has been recognised for its pioneering Applecross hatchery and smolt facility at the Highlands and Islands Business Excellence Awards organised by Prosper, the brand name of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry.

Bakkafrost Scotland was presented with the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Award for Excellence in Innovation at the awards ceremony at the Macdonald Drumossie Hotel in Inverness last week.

The award recognises the company’s investment in innovative technology and new approaches to salmon rearing at Applecross in Wester Ross.

Officially opened by Princess Anne earlier this year, the multi-million-pound facility is the UK’s largest freshwater recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) and is fundamental to Faroese parent company Bakkafrost Group's plans to turn the Scottish operation from a loss maker to a money earner.

The technology allows salmon to spend longer in freshwater, where conditions can be carefully managed, producing larger and more robust smolts before they are transferred to sea.

This approach supports Bakkafrost Scotland’s aim of reducing the time its salmon spend at sea from two summers to one, helping to improve fish health and welfare by reducing exposure to natural biological challenges in the marine environment.

The closed-loop RAS system also uses around 90% less water than traditional flow-through hatcheries, continuously filtering water to maintain consistent quality and precise temperature control.

Renewable energy and pyrolysis

Powered from renewable hydro and solar energy sources, the facility has capacity to produce around 13 million smolts annually, supporting year-round production.

The Applecross facility is central to Bakkafrost Scotland’s long-term investment in fish welfare, environmental performance and its ambition to become the most sustainable Scottish salmon producer.

Further innovation at the site includes a pyrolysis system, which will convert sludge from the RAS process into biochar for potential use in forestry and other applications.

Bakkafrost Scotland managing director Ian Laister said: “Applecross represents a significant long-term investment in the future of salmon farming in Scotland and is transforming the way we rear our salmon.

“I’m incredibly proud of the team at Applecross and delighted that their innovation and hard work have been recognised with this award.”

Aquascot excellence award

The company was not the only one in the aquaculture sector to be recognised.

Rachel Hannah, leader of the technical team at Alness salmon processor Aquascot, won the Scottish National Investment Bank Women in Leadership Excellence Award.

Hannah, who joined Aquascot as compliance manager in 2016, is responsible for the employee-owned company’s food safety management system and shapes the technical strategy. She oversees all food handling and associated technical support processes with respect to food safety and quality.

She was elected to be chair of the company’s Partnership Council in 2018, and has worked to improve its profile and effectiveness, ensuring that all partners – as its employees are known - have a voice. She is also a non-executive director on the industry leadership group, Scotland for Employee Ownership.