Jobs at risk as operations halted at fish farm off coast of Skye

Jobs are at risk with operations halted at a fish farm off the coast of the Isle of Skye.

Organic Sea Harvest – which says it is the only new salmon farming business to have been created in Scotland for “many years” – confirmed redundancies are likely at its sites.

Operations are to halt at its existing farms, and the development of a new farm at Balmaqueen has been paused until firm-wide refinancing can be reached.

The firm lost its first planning appeal for the new farms in 2020, but reduced the number of cages from its proposals to build ten near Flodigarry and another ten at Balmaqueen.

The local authority’s north area planning committee refused both projects in September 2024 on grounds of visual blight.

The decision was subsequently referred to the full council and officers recommended approval.

However, the company warned jobs will be lost due to the fallowing of its existing sites.

It cited challenges around the “slow pace of the planning and regulatory system in Scotland” as a reason for financial resources being exhausted.

A statement dated February 28, 2025 read: “Organic Sea Harvest is the only new salmon farming business to have been created in Scotland for many years, an achievement that we have, and continue to, celebrate.

“We’ve produced fantastic quality farmed organic salmon that has been in high demand and enjoyed by people around the world.

“Despite these successes, the challenging and slow pace of the planning and regulatory system in Scotland has resulted in Organic Sea Harvest reaching the end of its financial resources.

“Consequently, a decision has been made to fallow both existing farms until refinancing can be agreed for the business, including for the development of a new farm near Balmaqueen.

“Sadly, the fallowing of our existing sites will result in redundancies in our workforce.

“Our immediate focus will be on helping our people through this difficult time and, where possible, supporting them in finding alternative employment.”