The 19-strong group of YAS members included young professionals from across the aquaculture sector, including research institutes, universities, producers, and sector trade body Salmon Scotland.
Photo: Clara Simpson / YAS.
Members of the Young Aquaculture Society (YAS) visited Scottish Sea Farms' west coast facilities recently for an in-depth look at salmon farming, covering the entire salmon lifecycle.
The visit, the first YAS event since the society was launched in May by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, included a tour of several facilities operated by Scottish Sea Farms, guided by senior professionals from the company.
The tour began at the company's Barcaldine Hatchery, where YAS members learned about the salmon incubation process, followed by a visit to Charlotte's Bay farm, to view feeding systems and fish welfare measures, and finally a tour of the South Shian processing facility, where humane treatment of harvested fish was emphasised.
The day also featured a Q&A session with Anne Anderson, Scottish Sea Farms' Head of Sustainability and Development, who discussed fish health and responsible farming practices.
"To really understand salmon farming, nothing beats talking to the people who care for the fish daily, and witnessing their level of knowledge, experience, skill and passion," said Scottish Sea Farms Head of Freshwater, Rory Conn, adding that the hatchery team welcomes visits such as this.
"We want to give people the opportunity to form their own opinions about what they’re seeing, so the more questions they ask and the more inquisitive they are, the better use of time it is for us. In fact, we like the visits that run over time because it means that everyone is really engaged, as today’s group was."
"Because YAS is open to all working in and around the UK’s aquaculture ecosystem, many of our members have not been on a salmon farm before," said Andrew Richardson, YAS Founder and President, adding that the society values such opportunities for education, professional development, and networking, and thanking Scottish Sea Farms for hosting the visit.
YAS members visit Baracaldine Hatchery's RAS facility with Scottish Sea Farms Head of Freshwater Rory Conn.
The 19-strong group of YAS members included young professionals from across the aquaculture sector, including research institutes, universities, and producers. Organisations represented included Aquascot, Bakkafrost, Cefetra, Moredun, The Roslin Institute, University of Glasgow, University of Stirling and WJ Knox, in addition to Salmon Scotland and Scottish Sea Farms.
"This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, so the YAS visit presented the perfect opportunity," said University of Glasgow PhD candidate Will Barr, a researcher working on gill-associated microbiomes and their role within gill disease in Atlantic salmon. "It was done so well on the day, with insights into each key area."
Postdoctoral research fellow Thomas Clark, who studies genomics and immunology in aquaculture at The Roslin Institute, added: "It’s really helpful to see the animals in real-life, rather than simply working with clear tubes in a laboratory setting."
About the Young Aquaculture Society
YAS is a free network for young UK aquaculture professionals, aiming to enhance communication, support, and career opportunities. For more information, visit the YAS website.