Bakkafrost Scotland secures £630k grant for waste recycling project at hatchery

A project by Bakkafrost Scotland to recycle waste at its aquaculture hatchery in Wester Ross has secured up to £630,290 in funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The total investment value of the project is more than £2.5 million.

The project, described as the first of its kind in Scotland, will use a process known as pyrolysis to convert aquaculture waste into biochar, which will then be used by the forestry sector as a fertiliser. The pyrolysis system is expected to be operational by the end of the year, the company said.

The waste material will be generated at the company's new recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) hatchery at Kishorn. The enclosed system captures fish waste before it is processed by the new facility.

Ian Laister, Managing Director of Bakkafrost Scotland, stated that technological advancements have allowed the company to convert waste and produce fertiliser for forestry use. Alastair Nicolson, Area Manager for HIE, added that the project turns a waste stream into a useful product and reduces the volume of waste that needs to be transported out of the area.