Scottish Sea Farms scoops three top aquaculture Industry Awards
Scottish Sea Farms Ltd (SSF), one of Scotland's leading fish farming businesses was the winner in three categories at the prestigious Crown Estate Marine Aquaculture Awards 2008 last week (Thu 26 June).
The ceremony, which honours the top performers in Scotland's marine aquaculture industry, awarded SSF with Best Marine Farm for the Loch Kishorn site and its production director, John Rea, was given the title of Aquaculture Ambassador of the Year.
The company's Lochmuir™ salmon, specially bred for Marks & Spencer, helped the retailer take home the Best Retailer of the Year award.
Jim Gallagher, managing director, Scottish Sea Farms Ltd, said: "Scottish Sea Farms is delighted to have been recognised in three categories at this high profile industry event.
"We are dedicated to high production standards, innovation, and sustainability, and invest heavily in our people and the communities where we are based. These awards are an excellent way of rewarding our company's hard work."
Winning Best Marine Farm, the Loch Kishorn site on Scotland's West Coast which produces the Lochmuir salmon for M&S, stood out amongst the competition for its top-quality fish as well as the high environmental and welfare standards.
It has taken three years to develop Lochmuir™ Salmon, which is a sustainable, slower grown salmon with a high level of welfare consideration throughout the life-cycle to standards recognised by the RSPCA.
Andrew Mallison, technical manager, seafood procurement at M&S, adds: "Scottish Sea Farms was selected as our preferred grower for the ambitious Lochmuir™ salmon programme due to the company's dedication to quality, high standards and sustainable farming.
"It's fantastic that Lochmuir™ salmon, a Marks & Spencer concept which we have worked in partnership with Scottish Sea Farms to develop for some time, has been recognised for our pioneering and innovative approach, as well as our dedication to Scottish sea farming."
The Crown Estate award for Aquaculture Ambassador of the Year was given to SSF production director John Rea. His enthusiasm and dedication for the industry and his role in communicating important issues such as animal welfare, the environment and sustainability to the wider community, was a major factor for his win.
On accepting his award, John said: "This is a great honour for me to receive this award. The salmon industry is a fundamental part of Scotland's economy and it is important we work with a number of organisations and people to ensure it will remain a thriving business for years to come."
Scottish Sea Farms Ltd has sites across the North of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Isles employing 320 people and providing quality salmon for a number of retailers.
