Looking back, thinking ahead: Justin Watson
Fish Farming Expert has asked individuals connected to the salmon farming industry about their 2024, and what they hope for this year. We conclude the series with Justin Watson, chief operating officer Scotland and Ireland for fish health company STIM.
What were the highlights for STIM in Scotland and Ireland in 2024?
2024 was a big year for STIM in Scotland and Ireland. Acquiring the fish health and environmental services teams from Pharmaq Analytic has lifted our operations in line with our company vow of making a positive impact on fish health, welfare and productivity. Our new colleagues in fish health and environmental services are highly skilled and knowledgeable in their fields. Nothing is more valuable in aquaculture. The recruitment process is ongoing, to expand these teams further as part of our commitment to deliver the best possible support to our customers.
We also launched a new product, Supratect, last year. This is a highly effective natural product for the maintenance of optimal health of fish and fish eggs. It represents a significant milestone and demonstrates our commitment as a company to support and offer new products that help farmers improve the sustainability of operations in Scotland and Ireland.
What will be the most significant challenges and opportunities for STIM in 2025?
2025 is shaping up to be a busy year for us. We will welcome two new veterinary colleagues to our team in Scotland and Ireland, further strengthening our operational presence. Additionally, we are working hard to launch several new fish health products in 2025/2026, that we believe will benefit the industry greatly, both in conventional and organic production.
For our fish health and environmental services personnel, our ambition is to facilitate collaboration and sharing of knowledge between the teams in different countries where STIM is established. It is crucial that we use our unique position to share experiences and knowledge across the organisation, ultimately for the benefit of our customers.
What do you see as a significant challenge for the salmonid farming industry in Scotland in 2025?
Access to novel therapies and approaches in the face of emerging fish health challenges, particularly bacterial diseases for 2025. As an organisation we are committed to delivering innovation and expanding the toolbox for farmers; a toolbox that for many years has been so limiting and this is fact.
SRS (salmon rickettsial septicaemia) is a disease of growing importance in Scotland, but we can learn from the experiences of other producing regions in better understanding the epidemiology of the disease and how to manage it. Very recently, STIM held a global internal fish health workshop with invited experts to share the most recent knowledge of the disease across its fish health and veterinary teams.
