Caring for Scotland's Environment

Salmon farmers are guardians of the natural environment, since our livelihoods depend entirely on caring for the pristine waters where our salmon grow. Scotland has many significant environmental benefits; jeopardising this position would be very short-sighted.
Wester Ross farming methods care for the environment:-

• Salmon nets are inspected daily, and in order to facilitate maximum water exchange, each population is moved into a clean net at approximately three week intervals during the spring and summer months and at 6 week intervals during winter. The vacated net is left attached to the pen but hauled clear of the water to dry naturally in the sun. This allows a thorough inspection and removes the need for using anti-fouling on our nets.
• Net damage is a very rare occurrence, thus minimising the risk of unwanted losses from our nets. The risk of salmon escaping is minimised by using smaller pens; this allows any changes in fish behaviour or changes in stock level to be noticed quickly.
• Salmon are fed by hand throughout their life, with control systems on most pens which indicate once salmon have stopped feeding – this minimises the risk of waste feed.
• No growth promoters or chemical supplements are used.
• All sites are monitored on a continual basis for environmental impact, with formal measuring of seabed impact taking place on an annual basis.
• Wester Ross farming methods are regulated by 10 different statutory bodies and 63 pieces of legislation; Scottish Salmon farmers are among the most highly regulated farmers in the world.
• Wester Ross only use authorised veterinary medicines, prescribed by a vet and administered under veterinary supervision by trained personnel. All medicines have been scrutinised in Europe, UK and Scotland to ensure that their use is safe for the consumer and the environment.
• Wester Ross have successfully grown salmon in the same sea lochs for 24 years in harmony with the many other local users, sustainability in the long term has been demonstrated.
• Wester Ross have worked closely with many river owners to enhance the Wild Salmon stocks in local rivers.
• Wester Ross helps protect Scotland’s precious stocks of wild salmon by providing a year round supply of consistent quality Scottish Salmon, and therefore reducing the demand for the scarce Wild Salmon. Wild Salmon catches have been declining long before salmon farming began, and in areas where salmon farming does not exist. Scientific evidence clearly points to changing environmental conditions in the open oceans and global warming as the main influence affecting stocks.

Remember – Quality salmon requires a quality environment; it is clearly in our interest and that of the local community to respect and preserve our environment.

Local fishermen have enjoyed the benefits of our activity; with the areas close to the salmon pens providing ideal sheltered areas for wild fish and shellfish stock enhancement. Salmon pens are moved on a regular basis and the local fishermen always enjoy some good catches after salmon pens have been moved!

Customers are always welcome to learn more about our farming methods.

Wester Ross Fisheries Ltd. Registered in Scotland No. SC 29 73 76
Registered Office: Ardmair Ullapool, Ross-shire, Scotland IV26 2TN
Tel: +44 (0)1667 455 222  Fax: +44 (0)1667 455 184 Email: sales@wrs.co.uk
Directors: J.R.G.Bradley, C.W.Milne, H J T Richards, D A Robinson