Gael Force signs £4m deal to equip organic salmon farms
Aquaculture supplier Gael Force has agreed a deal worth more than £4 million to completely equip two sites off Skye for Scotland’s newest salmon farmer, Organic Sea Harvest.
Inverness-based Gael Force will supply a full range of established marine equipment, technology and supporting services for the exposed sites at Invertote and Culnacnoc, which will be stocked next year.
The equipment and technology will include SeaMate 350-tonne capacity feed barges and SeaFeed feeding systems, SeaQurePen fish pens, SeaQureMoor moorings, and underwater technology.
Close collaboration
In a press release, Gael Force said the two Highland-based companies had been closely collaborating over the course of three years to ascertain the best and most suitable equipment specification for the challenging site conditions.
Gael Force sales director Jamie Young said: “We have taken the time to understand Organic Sea Harvest’s needs and challenges for many months now and as a result we have become very attuned to their objectives.
“This has given both parties the complete confidence that we can be a key supply partner in helping Organic Sea Harvest to achieve the best possible results on their new farms.”
He added: “Throughout our discussions with the team from Organic Sea Harvest it has also been very clear to us how much they value the importance of working with a local supply partner. For our employees and the local communities in which we are present across Scotland this is terrific news.”
Local supplier
Organic Sea Harvest director Alex MacInnes said: “It means a huge amount to us that we have been able to source the highest quality of equipment and competence at competitive prices locally, and also, that we will be partnering with a Highlands and Islands-based supplier who has shown the enthusiasm and motivation to grow with us and help us in our objective to support the local community of Staffin.”
Organic Sea Harvest’s shareholders have experience and background in fish farming, and aim to retain as much of the generated wealth as is commercially practical in the communities of Skye and Lochalsh, while actively working to minimise environmental impacts.
The two sites are due to be stocked with smolts supplied by Lochgilphead-based Landcatch in the spring and autumn of 2020.
Organic Sea Harvest has also signed a five-year contract with Fish Vet Group for the provision of veterinarian field and consultancy services.
