Cooke Scotland celebrated the groundbreaking of a state-of-the-art Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) facility at its salmon hatchery in Cairndow, Argyll.
The milestone event brought together local community members, funders, member of the Scottish parliament (MSP), and employees on 2 March 2026 to mark the beginning of a transformative project for Cooke’s salmon production in the United Kingdom.
Designed to significantly reduce freshwater usage while enhancing water control, the system will allow the hatchery staff to rear healthier, more robust smolts with lower environmental impact. The new RAS facility represents Cooke’s significant investment in innovation, fish welfare and environmental stewardship.
Colin Blair, Managing Director at Cooke Scotland, said: “This groundbreaking event signals a major step forward for our freshwater operations to increase the supply of bigger, healthier smolts for our sites for years to come. As the largest single capital project Cooke Scotland has commissioned, this development aligns with our commitment to fish welfare as well as growing the business responsibly and sustainability.
“We’re thankful for the grant support for this project which will double the workforce at the hatchery. It will also further sustain and create more long-term, well-paid jobs throughout the company and supply chain – presenting more opportunities for local people to work in the rural communities they live in.”
A modern, intensive method of fish farming that uses a closed-loop system to maintain and recycle water, the RAS will continuously filter and reuse water with the facility, reducing water consumption compared to traditional flow-through systems, such as the one at Cairndow currently where five members of staff are employed.
Andy Young, Freshwater Production Manager, explains the development to Jenni Minto MSP and members of the local community
The fully integrated system at Cairndow will exceed the size of the RAS in operation at Cooke’s Furnace Hatchery. Work is expected to be completed next year, with the first eggs estimated to arrive on site in December 2027.
The ceremony concluded with a symbolic first dig by employees and invited guests including Jenni Minto MSP for Argyll and Bute, marking the official start of construction. Ms Minto said: “I was delighted to attend the groundbreaking ceremony in Cairndow for this development. Aquaculture plays a significant role in our local economy, and this expansion will allow Cooke Scotland to increase their production, bringing more jobs to Cowal and giving our economy a boost. I look forward to seeing the works completed.”
Cooke Scotland received a grant from Marine Fund Scotland towards the development, and is also working closely with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). HIE Area Manager for Argyll and the Islands, Morag Goodfellow, said: “Aquaculture is hugely important to the Argyll economy. It’s a growth industry and one that provides many good quality rural employment opportunities, particularly for young people. This in turn helps to attract and retain talent and sustain community resilience in many areas.
“It’s great to see this latest inward investment from Cooke Scotland, which will strengthen the sector’s impact and create jobs.”
Cooke Scotland produces its own organic salmon ova. Dedicated-trained staff nurture juvenile salmon in state-of-the-art freshwater facilities and remote freshwater lochs until they are ready to go to sea. The majority of Cooke Scotland’s freshwater sites are located in Argyll and Bute where the Scottish salmon sector contributes more than £100m to the area’s economy, supporting approximately 1,100 jobs.
From left-right; Andy Young, Colin Blair, Jenni Minto MSP, Morag Goodfellow and Owen Hutchins
Lead photograph: From left-right; Andy Young, Cooke Scotland Freshwater Production Manager; Colin Blair, Cooke Scotland Managing Director; Jenni Minto MSP; Morag Goodfellow, Area Manager at Highlands and Islands Enterprise; and Owen Hutchins, Cooke Scotland Cairndow Site Manager.