Press Release

SALMON FARMERS SCOOP TOP AWARDS

2 June 2006

The cream of one of Scotland’s flagship industries was recognised last night in the first Crown Estate Scottish Salmon Farm Awards, presented by Deputy Environment Minister Rhona Brankin MSP.

The awards reward innovation and best practice in Scotland’s salmon farming industry - full list of winners.

Sutherland-based Loch Duart Ltd took one of the night’s top honours with the award of Bank of Scotland Salmon Farming Company of the Year (small to medium), while Argyll-based Scottish Sea Farms picked up the Fusion Marine award for larger companies.

Johnson Seafarms scooped the Skretting Award for Best Entrepreneurial Initiative and now go through to The Crown Estate’s National Business Award Scheme alongside Scottish Sea Farms. The Shetland-based company received the award in recognition of their pioneering venture into organic farmed cod.

The Best Community Initiative award, sponsored by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, was won by Marine Harvest (Scotland) for their innovative schools programme which took salmon farming into classrooms up and down the West Coast and Western Isles. They also picked up a cheque for £3,000 which will benefit a local marine-related community project.

Scottish Sea Farms made it a double with the Aurora Environmental award for Best Kept Farm for their site at Loch Creran in Argyll.

Pan Fish Scotland were rewarded for initiatives judged to have made a real difference to the marine operational environment, collecting the Schering-Plough award for Best Environmental Contribution.

Ian Pritchard, Head of The Crown Estate’s Scottish Marine Estate, said: “We have been delighted by the response to the first Scottish Salmon Farm Awards and the quality of entrants made choosing winners extremely difficult.

“These awards showcase an industry which is vitally important to Scotland and its rural communities, producing a world class product. Much of the best practice and innovation within the salmon farming industry is taking place here in Scotland and we look forward to next year’s awards.”

Guests at the gala dinner at the Strathpeffer Pavilion, which was supported by environmental consultants EnviroCentre, dined on a selection of the finest produce from farms around The Crown Estate and were entertained by The Glenfinnan Ceilidh Band.

Judges were Phillip Thom, former chair of the Scottish Salmon Growers Association; Dennis Overton, managing director of Aquascot; Peter Dryburgh, director of NAFC Marine Centre; Bob Kennedy, senior editor of Special Publications (publishers of Fish Update); and Dr Carolyn Heeps, head of offshore and environment at The Crown Estate, who chaired the panel.

The full list of winners is:

• Best Kept Farm
  Sponsored by AURORA Environmental Ltd
  Winner
  Loch Creran - Scottish Sea Farms Ltd
  Highly Commended
  Glenfinnan  -  Marine Harvest (Scotland) Ltd

• Best Community Initiative
  Sponsored by Highlands & Islands Enterprise
  Winner
  Marine Harvest (Scotland) Ltd
  Highly Commended
  Scottish Sea Farms Ltd
  Wester Ross Salmon Ltd

• Best Entrepreneurial Initiative
  Sponsored by Skretting
  Winner
  Johnson Seafarms Ltd
  Highly Commended
  Marine Harvest (Scotland) Ltd
  Scottish Sea Farms Ltd

• Best Environmental Contribution
  Sponsored by Schering-Plough
  Winner
  Pan Fish Scotland Ltd
  Highly Commended
  Loch Duart Ltd
  Scottish Sea Farms Ltd

• Salmon Farming Company of the Year
  (small-to-medium - up to 4,000 tonnes)
  Sponsored by Bank of Scotland
  Winner
  Loch Duart Ltd
  Highly Commended
  Wester Ross Salmon Ltd

• Salmon Farming Company of the Year
  (medium-to-large - more than 4,000 tonnes)
  Sponsored by Fusion Marine
  Winner
  Scottish Sea Farms Ltd
  Highly Commended
  Pan Fish Scotland Ltd