Award for innovative Scottish haddock farming project

Sustainably farmed haddock could soon be on the plates of UK consumers thanks to an award-winning project by Argyll-based Viking Fish Farms.

This "exciting" project to develop a suitable feed for farmed haddock using cereal proteins has been recognised by the Home-Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA) Enterprise Awards, which encourage innovation with UK grain.

The farming of fish such as cod and haddock is now widely regarded as a sustainable way of meeting the market demand for these species. Cod farming is already well established in Norway and looks set to take off in the UK, and Viking has identified haddock as a prime next candidate for farming.

The haddock farming trials conducted so far, using a standard cod diet based on fish meal and fish oil, have revealed this diet to be unsuitable for haddock, which led to a loss of liver function. Viking plans to develop an alternative feed using cereal proteins.

This project will see Viking conduct further trials and testing of the new feed, potentially stimulating new demand for both fish and feed manufacturers. It is anticipated that the production of haddock in the UK could be around 5,000 tonnes per annum.

Jim Treasurer accepted the award on behalf of Viking Fish Farms and said: “We pride ourselves on our innovative approach to marine aquaculture research, and we are therefore delighted to be recognised by HGCA for this project. We are confident that the trial will be successful, and could potentially stimulate significant new demand for haddock.”

Julian Gibbons, Chairman of HGCA’s Market Development Committee said: “This is a very exciting project which has identified a unique way of farming haddock in a sustainable manner. If successful, the project could open up a major new market for UK cereals which are used in the feed, so we wish Viking Fish Farms every success.”