Investing in the future
Bakkafrost Scotland’s drive to be the leading sustainable salmon producer
Bakkafrost Scotland is one of the largest employers in the Outer Hebrides with more than 500 staff across 45 locations on the West Coast of Scotland and Hebridean Islands. It continues its commitment to become Scotland’s leading salmon producer with a sustainable approach to business.
The business’ progressive development programme continued during 2023 with sustained investment in its people, business and facilities across Scotland – all part of a sustainability strategy set to totally transform the business.
Bakkafrost Scotland’s ten-year strategy is underpinned by its Healthy Living Plan which outlines priorities under five sustainability pillars:
• Healthy Business
• Healthy Salmon
• Healthy People
• Healthy Environment
• Healthy Communities
An integral part of the sustainability plan for the salmon is to extend the time in fresh water producing large healthy smolt and then to be in the sea for one summer, rather than the traditional two. Fundamental to this is the development of the recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) at Applecross in North-West Scotland.
Award winning staff
Healthy Business:
Sustainable development of the business supported by the substantial investment programme will help secure jobs for the future and drive forward development in rural economies, as well as develop business performance.
“A consistent and sustainable approach remains a key priority. This is being realised by introducing industry leading RAS systems – a freshwater rearing facility which will be used to produce robust larger smolt, which is a ‘game changer’ for the industry,” says Bakkafrost Scotland managing director, Ian Laister.
“Our ambition in the longer term is to reduce the time in the sea for our fish to one summer, and therefore putting larger, more robust fish to sea that can cope with the increased natural challenges everyone in the sector is currently facing.
“We have increased awareness and training of everyone across our business about the biological challenges we faced earlier this year, supporting early warning systems and continuous monitoring. We’re all on this journey together.”
Equipping sites with up-to-date tools was part of this year’s plan, including centralised feeding and introducing AI, predator proof netting on all sites and jump nets where required, with the introduction of hybrid well boats and barges. New barges for Ardyne and Portree were installed, and further investment has been made to add new support boats to work alongside the impressive and industry leading well boats Ronja Star and Ronja Fisk.
Ian Laister and Jamie Bilsland
Healthy Salmon:
The industry leading RAS facility at Applecross is set to be completed in 2025, and earlier this year Bakkafrost Scotland submitted a Planning Application Notice with North Ayrshire Council with a view to constructing a further RAS facility at Fairlie on the Ayrshire coast.
With BAP accreditation already secured on all Bakkafrost Scotland facilities, the company is now working with the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) – the world’s leading certification scheme for farmed seafood – to further add to the business’ accreditation credentials. The ASC label only appears on products from farms that have been independently assessed and certified as being environmentally and socially responsible.
The Company has achieved certification for several farm sites and also has obtained ASC Chain of Custody certification for all three of its processing facilities on the west coast.
This is a major achievement for the sites and teams across the country, as the ASC develops and manages the strictest standards in the industry including hundreds of requirements covering potential aquaculture impacts – such as water quality, responsible sourcing of feed, disease prevention, animal welfare, the fair treatment and pay of workers and maintaining positive relationships with neighbouring communities.
Bakkafrost Scotland standards and certifications also include: RSPCA, GlobalGAP and the Code of Good Practice to maintain world-class standards across each of its sites across the country.
2023 also saw the company’s world-class Native Hebridean salmon continue to claim several industry accolades with further success at the Great Taste awards, the Great British Food Awards, a Primary Producer Award at the prestigious Highlands & Islands Food and Drink Awards and further recognition at the Scottish Retail Food & Drinks Awards.
Isle of Skye Half Marathon
Healthy People:
The Bakkafrost Scotland Healthy Living Awards programme was launched in 2021 to highlight the way in which members of the team across the country go ‘above and beyond’ in their everyday roles in five pillars of sustainability.
To-date 22 people have picked up this prestigious award, following a nomination from colleagues.
It is important to hear about the way in which team members have contributed to the responsible and sustainable development of our operations and sites.
There are five categories for the awards which come under the Bakkafrost Scotland sustainability pillars – Healthy People, Salmon, Business, Environment and Communities, and 2023 saw the scheme widened to include colleagues from across the Bakkafrost group.
Each of the winners were congratulated for their outstanding commitment to both their communities and the wellbeing of colleagues, which is entirely in keeping with the Bakkafrost values across the business.
The past year has seen considerable progress made by the Bakkafrost Scotland teams across the country in their commitment to grow the business in line with their industry leading sustainability ambitions, and that push is set to continue into 2024 with new investments which are likely to be a ‘game changer’ for the industry.
Lochcarron Highland Games
Healthy Environment:
2023 saw further progress at our Applecross recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) site as the development approaches completion on schedule.
RAS facilities are a ‘game changer’ for the industry and Applecross is a priority in our commitment to grow the business in line with our industry leading sustainability ambitions.
When complete, the facility will run on 100 percent direct renewable energy with hydropower making up 75 percent of the energy mix with 33km of private wire to our hydro system. On-site solar panels are expected to yield 881KW annually, delivering the other 25 percent of the site’s electricity needs.
Applecross will also be a shining example of the circular economy in Scotland with use of waste for fertiliser.
WIIGA group photo, opening ceremony
Healthy Communities:
The Bakkafrost Scotland Community Fund supports the delivery of its Community Charter, bringing employees and communities together by encouraging staff to champion local groups and charities that have a positive impact on health, wellbeing, and the natural environment.
Last year, it launched an expanded community funding initiative building on the success of the existing staff-nominated Community Fund, offering organisations the opportunity to apply directly to support local causes. Groups and charities based in or delivering projects within a twenty-mile radius of one of the business’ sites, can apply for financial support for projects that promote health and wellbeing, stewardship of the natural environment or economic development within the community. Since the launch of the Community Fund in 2017, over 110 community groups in the Western Isles, Argyll and Bute, the Highlands and Islands and North Ayrshire and Arran have received funding.
Cowal Highland Gathering
The Community Charter brings the brand values and pillars to life and details Bakkafrost’s commitment to working closely with people, suppliers and communities.
In 2023, Bakkafrost Scotland partnered on a range of sponsorship activities supporting and celebrating sport, culture, and tradition.
In July, it continued its long-standing sponsorship of the Western Isles Games Association’s participation at the NatWest International Island Games – this year, held in Guernsey. This bi-annual event attracts island teams from around the world and this year over 100 athletes flew out of Stornoway to represent the Western Isles. The team were successful in bringing home four silver and one bronze medal from the Games.
Bakkafrost Scotland also continued its long-term association with two of the west coast of Scotland’s highest profile community gathering and Highland Games events at the Cowal Gathering and Lochcarron Highland Games.
Kirn primary school 1
Both events attract thousands of visitors from far and wide every year, and the mix of tradition and competition is a major attraction for all who attend.
“We have been headline sponsor of the Lochcarron Highland Games for five years now, and our association with the Cowal Gathering is also long-term,” said Ian Laister.
The investments made by Bakkafrost Scotland in 2023 will be significant for the business, and importantly supported by sound business practice, based on sustainability for long-term success, in a sector which still delivers for the often fragile communities in which it operates as well as for Scotland.
