Our Ethos

Wester Ross follow a simple ethos:-

Ownership 

We are “hands-on” farmers, with all the shareholders and owners of the business having a daily operational role in caring for our Salmon and our customers.  Wester Ross have an extremely committed and dedicated workforce, and have developed skilled people focused on caring of their Salmon. Our methods are labour intensive deliberately to maintain the best growing standards and therefore produce Scotland’s finest quality Salmon.

Prioritise Welfare  

Our Salmon’s welfare is always priority, and all growing conditions and handling methods are designed to ensure this. Formal recognition of our operating standards is recognised under the RSPCA Freedom Food scheme; this covers all aspects of salmon rearing – management, husbandry, equipment, environmental quality, feeding, health, transport and slaughter.Our Salmon do not leave their safe secure seawater environment from smolt stage (100 grams) to harvestable size (3-5 kg).

Care for our Environment

We are guardians of a special environment, since our livelihoods depend entirely on caring for the pristine waters where our salmon grow.  Wester Ross farming methods care for the environment:-

  • Salmon nets are inspected daily, and in order to facilitate maximum water exchange, each population is moved into a clean net at approximately three week intervals during the spring and summer and at 6 week intervals during winter. The vacated net is left attached to the pen but hauled clear of the water to dry naturally in the sun. This allows a thorough inspection and removes the need for using anti-fouling on our nets.
  • Net damage is a very rare occurrence, thus minimising the risk of unwanted losses from our nets. The risk of salmon escaping is minimised by using smaller pens; this allows any changes in fish behaviour or changes in stock level to be noticed quickly.
  • Salmon are fed by hand throughout their life. 
  • No growth promoters or chemical supplements are used.
  • All sites are monitored on a continual basis for environmental impact.
  • Wester Ross have successfully grown salmon in the same sea lochs since 1978 in harmony with the many other local users.
  • Wester Ross helps protect Scotland’s precious stocks of wild salmon by providing a year round supply of consistent quality Scottish Salmon, and therefore reducing the demand for the scarce Wild Salmon.
    Local fishermen have enjoyed the benefits of our activity; with the areas close to the salmon pens providing ideal sheltered areas for wild fish and shellfish stock enhancement. Salmon pens are moved on a regular basis and the local fishermen always enjoy some good catches after salmon pens have been moved!

Grow the tastiest Scottish Salmon!

Each of the above choices will all affect the quality and taste of the salmon you will enjoy; however the choice of feed and feeding methods has the largest impact on taste. Our salmon are fed on a sustainable marine-based diet, as close to their natural diet as possible, while ensuring that their important dietary requirements are being met.