Scottish Sea Farms reports improved fish survival

Scottish Sea Farms delivered high fish survival and strong biological performance in 2020 despite the ongoing pandemic, the company has reported.
Over the full year, the salmon farmer achieved an average annual survival rate of 92 per cent across its 42-strong estate of marine farms. This brings Scottish Sea Farms’ average annual survival rate for the last five-year period to 91 per cent.
Commenting on the results, Scottish Sea Farms (SSF) Managing Director Jim Gallagher said: “2020 was a tough year by anyone’s standards with the arrival of Covid-19, but particularly so for livestock farmers with animals to be fed and tended to – a duty of care that applies 365 days of the year.
“Thanks to the diligence of our farming teams, the many specialist roles working alongside them and the phenomenal amount of time, energy and focus given collectively to ensuring the best growing conditions, we have successfully safeguarded fish welfare throughout the ongoing disruption and continued to play our part in keeping supplies of highly nutritious, home-grown food flowing.”
Also integral to the high survival rates recorded in 2020, says Gallagher, is the company’s long-term strategic investment programme.
“We’re working hard every single day to make the best decisions for our fish: adding to our capacity and competence; investing our money where it’s needed the most; and, crucially, monitoring the results to ensure these investments are delivering the anticipated difference or whether we need to hone our approaches further.”
During 2020, SSF created 30 new roles across the company, invested in a new support vessel and new service vessel and opened a new farm at Hunda, Orkney, in addition to a series of upgrades to existing farm infrastructure.
SSF’s Head of Fish Health, Dr Ralph Bickerdike, said: “It’s hugely reassuring to see our hard work and ongoing investment deliver 92 per cent average survival amongst a species thought to have a survival rate of just five per cent or less in the wild.”