Fish farming in the highlands and islands: Boom industry of the 1980s

Abstract

Abstract The upsurge of fish farming in the West Highlands and Islands in recent years has been made possible by the region being substantially free from water‐borne pollution, and by its having stretches of sheltered coastal water; allied to these factors is a rapidly expanding market for the products. Development has been promoted by the Highlands and Islands Development Board (HIDB), and a number of other statutory and private bodies have been involved in organising and promoting it. Considerable employment has been generated and salmon has been by far the most important species farmed. While this new industry has been dominated by big companies, it has involved enterprise at a variety of scales.