It was revealed in today's Campbeltown Courier that Norwegian fish farming firm, Niri are soon to start construction of Scotland's first ON LAND salmon farm at Machrihanish Airbase and hope to be producing by the end of the year.
This will result in the creation of up to 20 new jobs in coming months and potentially many more in Kintyre in the future.
All previous fish farms in the UK have used sea cages, which have been criticized for sea lice and pollution problems in lochs. But Niri have developed their own unique concept, which means the fish can be kept in secure land-based tanks, producing healthier and cheaper salmon. The whole process is eco-friendly with waste being dried out and used as fertiliser, rather than being discharged in the sea. In the future, Niri plans to recycle the sludge, producing biogas and heat.
Initially, two tanks will be constructed within the airbase's Gaydon hangar, each producing 1,000 tonnes of salmon per year. 40% of supplies will be sourced from local suppliers. Phase 3 of the project will see a full planning application for an ambitious expansion in the future.
Seeking views and feedback from the local community on what this could mean for the area and its economy.