Industry update News Management
Award winning Scottish Gigha Halibut to shut down operations

After 15 years of operation, the award winning Gigha Halibut of Scotland is shutting down its land-based halibut operation.

The company was the only land-based halibut farm in the United Kingdom. Through the years, Gigha Halibut became a top brand among some of the most popular restaurants in the UK. It won several awards for its product including the Waitrose’s “Made in Britain” award in 2009 as well as the Best Scottish Product in the Great Taste Awards, in 2015.

However,  a post on the company’s Facebook page said its directors “have taken the decision to no longer stock the fish farm on Gigha with juvenile halibut” and that the remaining stock will be harvested out between now and May this year.

“Multiple factors contributed to this decision, including, changing water parameters, power costs for pumping and the effects of climate change, all have challenged the overall viability of the farming Halibut on Gigha,” according to the post.

The company began raising halibut in the Isle of Gigha back in 2008. The exceptional quality of the fish and the provenance of the Island, combined to help Gigha Halibut feature on the menus of the country’s finest restaurants.

“This would not have been possible without the support of the shareholders and investors who have helped finance the project. Finally, thanks to the dedicated staff and supportive Island community who have helped keep the show running 24/7, 365 days a year often in the most extreme island weather,” the company said.

Gigha Halibut still hopes that this is “not the end of fish farming on the site.”

Directors of are evaluating various alternative species and uses that may be more suited to the changing conditions around Gigha. The Otter Ferry Seafish marine hatchery on Loch Fyne will continue to produce halibut Juveniles and will seek to identify potential sites suitable for Halibut farming elsewhere in Scotland, the company said.