SHETLAND’S largest salmon producer is set to invest almost £4 million into a state of the art smolt hatchery, at Girlsta, which could produce up to three million baby fish as of 2013.
The move will enable Hjaltland Seafarms to become a fully vertically integrated company controlling salmon production from the egg to the table.
On Tuesday Shetland Islands Council approved a grant of £314,735 towards the £3.7 million project in a bid to trigger funding from the European Fisheries Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
The project comes hard on the heels of the completion of a secondary processing unit that produces smoked salmon for the retail market.
The investment by Hjaltland Hatcheries should create seven new jobs adding to the local Hjaltland group’s workforce of almost 200.
Managing director Michael Stark said the company was a major player in Shetland which had invested £27 million in farms and factories during the last six years. During the same period the company had paid £21 million in wages.
“This investment provides the final link in the chain for the complete vertical integration of our business from inception to finished product on supermarket shelves.
“The introduction of the hatchery helps us control supply and maintain the quality of our product and, of course, grow customer confidence.
“We are proud to be in a position to retail our own brand Shetland salmon and believe that the customer response and many accolades that the WildWaters range has already received demonstrate that it is a brand that is creating real impact – not only for the company but for Shetland as a whole,” Mr Stark said.
Development committee chairman Josie Simpson added: “The project will allow the Hjaltland Group to grow its Shetland based company which will positively impact on the Shetland economy.
“In addition this grant will lever in significant funds from other sources to enable the project to go ahead.”
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