Mowi plans to breathe new life into uninhabited Scottish island with multimillion pound investment

The Scotsman

Mowi, Scotland’s largest aquaculture company, has announced its purchase of Sanda Island in Argyll and Bute off the southern tip of the Kintyre peninsula. The company plans to establish a salmon farm off the east coast of the island as well as reinvigorate the island and develop its potential as a tourism destination.  The fish farm will create 14 new jobs in two shifts of seven people, including apprentice positions. The purchase of Sanda Island also includes the former hotel and houses, as well as Campbeltown shipyard and associated property, Sandbank House.

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00:00Years ago, just south of Campbelltown on Scotland's south-west coast,

00:04the last residents of Sanda Island packed their bags and left,

00:08leaving it now uninhabited.

00:10What was once a quaint getaway,

00:12with a hotel, a restaurant and the ruins of St Ninian's Chapel,

00:16is now empty, but not forgotten.

00:18Mowi Scotland, one of the world's leading salmon farmers,

00:22has just taken ownership of Sanda,

00:24and they have big plans for the island.

00:26Plans to restore, revive and completely transform it.

00:30Just off the island's east coast,

00:32the deep waters have strong currents with some shelter from the open ocean,

00:36making it an ideal site for Mowi's newest 200m pen farm proposal.

00:40Albeit still an exposed site to the ocean,

00:43but new farming technologies make it possible.

00:46But that's just the beginning.

00:47The island's buildings have been left to the elements,

00:50but if anyone's going to live and work here, they'll need to be restored.

00:54The new farm will see 14 full-time positions over two shifts,

00:58but Mowi won't just bring fish farmers.

01:00Part of the vision includes fixing up the old pub and hotel,

01:04and opening the door for locals and business owners to set up shop once again.

01:08And why not?

01:09Sanda is stunning, with scenic trails,

01:12ancient ruins and endless boating opportunities around its shores.

01:16There's also a major rewilding effort in the works.

01:19At 450 acres, Sanda has huge potential for forest restoration and green initiatives,

01:25with proper land management.

01:26After all, the current island ecology is damaged.

01:30This is no small project.

01:32It will take years, but the goal is clear,

01:34to turn Sanda into an opportunity for everyone,

01:37fish farmers, locals, tourists and native wildlife alike.

01:41Meanwhile, at the proposed salmon farm,

01:44a suite of environmental testing is underway,

01:47including seabed surveying and collection of tidal and wave data,

01:50to ensure the fish thrive and the environment remains unharmed.

01:54And in a few years, you might just find yourself on Sanda Island for the weekend,

01:59enjoying some of the freshest salmon you've ever had, right where it was raised.

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