Bakkafrost Scotland wins sustainability award at top aquaculture showcase. One of Scotland’s leading salmon producers has won a prestigious honour at an international awards ceremony.
Bakkafrost Scotland scooped the Sustainability Award at the Aquaculture Awards, part of Aquaculture UK, the sector’s flagship event. The awards were presented at a gala dinner at the Hilton Glasgow, attended by more than 700 guests. There were nearly 100 nominations, celebrating the best of the international aquaculture community.
Bakkafrost Scotland was shortlisted across several categories, reflecting the company’s continued investment in people, innovation, sustainability, and community partnerships. The company won the Sustainability Award for its development of Applecross recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) and pioneering pyrolysis, a global first for aquaculture.
The multi-million-pound waste-to-fertiliser conversion system will use pyrolysis technology to transform sludge removed from the recirculating aquaculture system process into biochar. This carbon-rich product can be used locally to improve soil quality for forestry, supporting more circular food systems and significantly reducing waste.
The unit is based at Bakkafrost Scotland’s new multi-million-pound Applecross facility, which was officially opened by the Princess Royal earlier this year, marking a major step forward in sustainable Scottish salmon production. The facility is the UK’s largest freshwater RAS and is central to the company’s ambition to become the most sustainable Scottish salmon producer. The site uses significantly less water than traditional hatcheries, with water continuously recirculated through filtration, oxygenation, disinfection, and natural biofilter systems. The facility is powered directly by renewable energy, including on-site solar and hydro generation.
Ian Laister, managing director, Bakkafrost Scotland said:
“It is tremendous to have won the Sustainability Award at this year’s Aquaculture Awards. Our Applecross facility represents a significant long-term investment in the future of sustainable salmon farming in Scotland. The site demonstrates how innovation can support fish welfare, environmental performance, and operational excellence, while helping us progress our ambition of becoming the most sustainable Scottish salmon producer. We are proud of what has been achieved and delighted to see that recognised through these awards.”
Image: Bakkafrost Scotland managing director Ian Laister accepting the Sustainability Award on stage in Glasgow.