Mowi, Scotland’s largest aquaculture company, has announced its purchase of Sanda Island in Argyll and Bute off the southern tip of the Kintyre peninsula. The company plans to establish a salmon farm off the east coast of the island as well as reinvigorate the island and develop its potential as a tourism destination.
The fish farm will create 14 new jobs in two shifts of seven people, including apprentice positions. The purchase of Sanda Island also includes the former hotel and houses, as well as Campbeltown shipyard and associated property, Sandbank House.
With a multimillion pound investment, Mowi has ambitions to reinvigorate the whole island and to help support the establishment of a sustainable tourism industry, creating 10 jobs in addition to those at the fish farm.
Mowi’s plans include refurbishing the hotel and housing, ultimately hiring a caretaker couple or family to oversee the hospitality side of the business. As it has done in other island locations such as Colonsay, it will also establish yacht moorings to bolster tourism as well as seeking to improve accessibility between Sanda Island and the mainland. Additionally, there is scope to explore rewilding and nature enhancement projects.
Speaking about the vision for Sanda Island, Ben Hadfield, Mowi’s Chief Operating Officer of Farming in Scotland, Ireland, The Faroes and Canada East, said: “We have the opportunity to do something very special with Sanda Island. We already have incredibly valuable experience of developing successful fish farms off the coast of Scottish islands including Rum, Muck and Colonsay.
“We are also proud of the work we have done with local communities on these islands to improve infrastructure, be that through housing, broadband or moorings, to help retain or attract people to live and work on the island.
“Our first priority now will be to consult with the communities of the area and develop a comprehensive biodiversity plan for the Island. We will also undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment for the proposed high energy salmon development.“
The Scottish aquaculture industry has committed to develop farms in more open-water locations, where environmental conditions are more varied.
This is a topic that was discussed at length during the recent follow-up inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland undertaken by the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee of the Scottish Parliament.
We are confident that Sanda Island offers an ideal location for salmon farming as it provides some protection from the island whilst harnessing the tidal currents and favourable environmental conditions to grow healthy salmon.
“We are looking forward to engaging with all stakeholders to discuss the potential of breathing new life into Sanda Island.”
Mowi has begun the early-stage pre-application process with stakeholders and the local community.
In a signal of further confidence in coastal, high-energy locations for fish farms, Mowi has also purchased Fladda-chuain, an uninhabited island three miles off the northern tip of Skye. Further details of the company’s plans for this island will be announced in due course.
Mowi is keen to hear from people interested in working on Sanda Island either in an aquaculture role or to help develop the tourism potential of the island. Interested parties are encouraged to contact Mowi at enquiries.scotland@mowi.com.
