New hatchery is expected to produce up to 50 million eyed eggs to supply Mowi’s production hatcheries, with completion slated for spring 2025.
Mowi Scotland has successfully produced its first eggs from Scottish broodstock in two decades.
The milestone follows the recent approval of Mowi Scotland’s broodstock and egg facility at Ardessie. This development comes as a crucial step for Mowi, which had been reliant on external egg supplies due to an export ban of ova from Norway.
In November 2022, Mowi CEO Ivan Vindheim blamed restrictions on the importation of salmon eggs from Norway for limiting the health of the stocks raised in the country after the company was forced to slash harvest guidance by 17%.
The initiative to establish a local broodstock program began in 2021, with salmon from Mowi’s nucleus in Ireland being raised in Scottish seawater farms. After a period in freshwater this autumn, the salmon were examined for spawning readiness, leading to the successful egg stripping last month.
According to Broodstock and Post-Smolt Development Manager John Richmond this season’s egg stripping marks progress towards Mowi Scotland’s goal of a self-sustaining egg supply.
The Ardessie facility is equipped with advanced recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) technology, allowing for controlled breeding environments. It is expected to produce up to 50 million eyed eggs to supply Mowi’s production hatcheries, with completion slated for spring 2025.
During the spawning process, DNA analysis was conducted, and male fish were ranked based on their breeding index by Mowi geneticists. The focus was on DNA markers indicative of growth, disease robustness, and flesh pigment quality.
Ben Hadfield, COO Farming Scotland, praised the team’s efforts, highlighting the importance of this milestone in securing future generations of high-quality salmon, which is crucial for Scotland’s leading food export.
