Survey reveals ‘stunning’ underwater images of marine life around salmon farm

Survey finds diverse marine life near Mowi’s Loch Hourn farm, suggesting aquaculture can coexist with healthy marine ecosystems

Mowi Scotland has released a series of “stunning” underwater images documenting marine life around its fish farm at Loch Hourn, an area with more than three decades of aquaculture activity.

The photographs, taken by independent marine surveying firm Tritonia Scientific, capture a range of species thriving in the site’s moorings, including feather stars, peacock worms, catsharks, jellyfish, wrasse, anemones, urchins, soft coral and scallops.

“At Mowi Scotland, protecting our marine environment is at the heart of everything we do,” said Stephen MacIntyre, head of environment at Mowi Scotland. “That’s why we commissioned an independent environmental survey of the seabed and waters around our salmon farm at Loch Hourn, a water body that has been the subject of a recent environmental pollution report.”

Mowi commissioned Tritonia Scientific to carry out the survey as part of an effort to assess and document the condition of the marine environment around its salmon farm. The company said the findings support the view that aquaculture and local marine ecosystems can co-exist without causing environmental harm.

“There are a lot of misconceptions around the environmental effects of fish farming, with a rush to judge and apportion cause and effect when reports such as these arise,” said MacIntyre. “In response, it’s important we acknowledge such concerns but that we also investigate, monitor and transparently present observational field data to inform more reasoned opinions.”

Time to play: Farmed fish respond to environment enrichment

According to the company, more than three decades of fish farming activity at Loch Hourn has not prevented the development of a diverse marine ecosystem. Recent internal surveys have indicated strong biodiversity in the area, a finding that Mowi says is reinforced by the latest independent assessment. The company noted that sensitive species – such as feather stars, sponges, scallops, squat lobsters, soft corals and small-spotted catsharks – were observed around mooring lines and within nearby kelp habitats.

“The photos definitely speak for themselves,” said MacIntyre. “This is what responsible fish farming looks like in a well-managed environment.”

MacIntyre said the company operates under some of the strictest fish farming regulations globally, particularly regarding environmental protection. He added that Mowi employs a team of environmental professionals to monitor its farms and now funds dedicated surveys that extend beyond regulatory requirements, aiming to share more data and evidence on the condition of the marine environment surrounding its aquaculture sites.

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