Scotland's only independent salmon farmer to fallow farms

Organic Sea Harvest (OSH) is cash-strapped. Consequently, Scotland's only independent salmon farmer has decided to fallow both existing farms until it can agree on a refinancing for the company that will allow it not only to continue to operate the existing farms in Cùl nan Cnoc & Inbhir Tobhta and Culnacnoc & Invertote but also to develop a third one near Balmaqueen, on the Isle of Skye as well, for which it was granted permission last September.

The company, which until a couple of weeks before the announcement continued to report on its daily activity through its LinkedIn profile as normal - it shares many images of its workers' day-to-day activities -, informed about its decision to suspend production in a brief statement published on its website.

"Organic Sea Harvest is the only new salmon farming business to have been created in Scotland for many years, an achievement that we have, and continue to, celebrate. We've produced fantastic quality farmed organic salmon that has been in high demand and enjoyed by people around the world," the statement began.

"Despite these successes, the challenging and slow pace of the planning and regulatory system in Scotland has resulted in Organic Sea Harvest reaching the end of its financial resources," it continued. "Consequently, a decision has been made to fallow both existing farms until refinancing can be agreed for the business, including for the development of a new farm near Balmaqueen."

Plans were to expand the business rather than suspend it

As mentioned, OSH obtained planning permission for a third farm at Balmaqueen in north-east Skye last August. The application though was for two sites, at Balmaqueen and Flodigarry, that were refused by the Highland Council's North Planning Applications Committee a few days earlier.

However, after more than 20 councilors supported an amendment notice, the applications were brought to the full council for consideration, and the Scottish organic salmon producer eventually secured permission albeit for only one of them. The Highland Council voted 25-23 in favor of Balmaqueen's application after earlier rejecting Flodigarry's by 28 votes to 22. 

As can be inferred from the statement that OSH director and co-founder, Alex MacInnes, made at the time, plans for the following few months were focused more on expanding the business rather than suspending it.

"I am delighted that Organic Sea Harvest has been granted permission for the Balmaqueen site, bringing the total number of sites to three, which means that we can now move on. However, we still want that fourth farm and this will be something that we will discuss in the months to come," MacInnes then stated.

Supporting its workforce in finding alternative employment

Now, Organic Sea Harvest faces a much tougher reality that will especially affect its workers. The last paragraph of the company's statement on the suspension of activity is dedicated to them.

"Sadly, the fallowing of our existing sites will result in redundancies in our workforce. Our immediate focus will be on helping our people through this difficult time and, where possible, supporting them in finding alternative employment," OSH statement concluded.

As it happens, just today, Thursday, March 6, one of them, Robaidh Halliday - who is studying for an SVQ Level 9 in Aquaculture Management at UHI Shetland while working as a Site Manager for OSH in his home town of Portree - could be a winner at the Lantra Scotland Land and Aquaculture Skills Awards (the ALBAS), after being one of five shortlisted aquaculture apprentices.

Precisely, providing safe jobs and economic prosperity for the communities in which the company operates was one of the goals Organic Sea Harvest CEO James Deverill set for his ternure when he took office in April 2023.

As mentioned above, Organic Sea Harvest is the first new, independently owned and operated salmon producer in Scotland for many decades. Established in 2017, with a vision to fill a gap in the organic salmon market, it began in the small community of Staffin on the Isle of Skye. Today, the company's two marine sites - the ones that will now be fallowed - are officially certified organic by the UK Soil Association.