The development of marine fish farming for species such as cod and haddock will help bridge the UK's 'fish gap' and provide a major economic boost to remote coastal regions in Scotland, including Argyll where four companies are active in the field.

The British Marine Finfish Farming Association (BMFA) has developed a carefully modelled 10-year target for growth in Scotland which predicts a first sale production value of £100m for farmed marine fish by the end of the period, employing 600 people in high quality, full time jobs.

The BMFA believes this will stimulate upstream and downstream employment of a further 1,800 jobs in Scotland. The first sale value of marine fish (cod, haddock and halibut) farmed in 2002 is expected to be about £4m, already bringing the sector abreast of the value of Scottish shellfish cultivation.

Companies in Argyll actively developing marine finfish farming include Kames Marine Fish Farming Ltd, Lakeland Marine, Otterferry Seafish and Scottish Sea Farms.

BMFA executive director Richard Slaski says: 'The predicted development of marine finfish farming will make a small but beneficial contribution for bridging the nation's 'fish gap' where there is a heavy reliance on imports to meet consumer demand.

'Marine finfish supplies will feed into existing processors and supply chains helping to keep Scotland's seafood processors viable.'

Councillor Campbell Cameron, North Lorn Ward of Argyll & Bute Council and a member of the Highlands & Islands Convention Forum on Aquaculture, says the development of 'new species' farming will bring important new economic opportunities for Argyll.

'The development of marine finfish farming is good news for the Argyll economy and will create sustainable jobs in areas where employment opportunities are scarce. This creation of employment will provide knock-on benefits for local shops and other businesses, as well as schools.'

A key plank to the expansion strategy lies in the sustainable development of the sector and the BMFA says its members recognise that environmental protection is a priority and are currently producing a code of practice.

Mr Slaski says: 'We are committed to the highest standards of environmental stewardship right from the start - environmental research has been undertaken before the sector has even started to produce any significant amounts of fish.'

'Working with members, continually reviewing their progress and undertaking our own studies, we have developed our 'vision' for the sector over the next 10 years. It's a vision which clearly identifies market opportunity, environmental stewardship and stakeholder co-existence. We have the plan modelled down to individual hatcheries and ongrowing farms, developing year-on-year.'

Ends

- Predicted UK production for 2002 is for 300 tonnes of halibut, 300 tonnes of turbot and 180 tonnes of cod, amounting to approximately £3.5m tonnes at first sale value.

- UK landings by the commercial fishing fleet of the six key species (monkfish, herring, mackerel, plaice, haddock and cod) are down by almost 50 per cent since the 1970s, but consumer demand is increasing - second only to poultry in terms of protein at home.