Raising
Atlantic Halibut
in Scotland
creating a
premium Halibut
brand globally.
The Problem
67kT of wild halibut was caught in 1960. Only 27.7kT by 2022 with 3bn more people on the planet.
2023 saw farmed seafood exceed the wild catch industry for the first time in history.
Open water fish farming carries risks linked with environment and climate.
Fish escapes, over feeding and fish waste can impact the local marine environment if poorly managed.
Existing open sea systems used for halibut are designed for free swimming fish that use all the water column like salmon. Halibut like to rest on a surface and if that moves it can abrade them impacting fish health and final quality.
Predation (e.g. seals) and other biological risks such as parasites, micro-jellyfish and toxic
plankton coupled with rising sea temperatures will also bring further challenges.
Our Solution
Raising Atlantic halibut in land-based fish farms.
Ever-growing demand for sustainable quality seafood with impeccable provenance and a trusted brand, based on location and the history of aquaculture in Scotland.
Land-based fish farming allows greater control, enhancing the health of the fish and their quality of life. It allows waste to be separated and opportunities to turn into a by-product e.g. feedstock for alternative feeds or energy production.
Biological, predation and climatic risks associated with open sea systems can be avoided.
Brand provenance and consistent superior quality of harvest fish guaranteed.
Energy for the farm can be provided by renewables.
Executive
Summary.
This is an opportunity to establish a new £1bn plus aquaculture industry in Scotland, backed by Government and the local community and led by The Scottish Halibut Company Ltd.
We are building a global premium halibut brand against the backdrop of the established seafood industry in Scotland,
led by Scottish farmed salmon, the biggest food export from the United Kingdom per year and growing.
Right Team: We have assembled a highly credible and experienced leadership team led by Ed Tame as CEO and supported by an MD/Ops Director with over 45 years’ experience in aquaculture.
They have worked extensively in the halibut industry and helped to establish the vital protocols which have evolved through intensive research and development in the industry over the past 30 years to successfully develop farmed halibut in 2025.
They are supported by Nigel Mills as Executive Chair, a serial entrepreneur, and Nick Joy as a Consultant, co-founder of Loch Duart Salmon.
Right Place: The infrastructure for the seafood industry in the Highlands and Islands is already established, and the Atlantic is the natural habitat of our halibut.
The site for our first Atlantic halibut hatchery has been identified and exclusivity secured. Halibut juveniles have successfully been produced there by our MD/Ops Director
in the past and presents a unique opportunity in terms of location, existing consents and facilities.
Right Time: 67,000 tonnes of wild halibut were caught in 1960, but overfishing has led to a crash in landings. Yet a growing middle class drives demand for high-quality, premium seafood. Farmed Atlantic salmon has grown from a research project to a 3 million tonne industry within the last 60 years, and we are now starting to see meaningful volumes of farmed halibut in Norway.
The four pillars of a global premium
halibut brand are:
a) Scottish Heritage
b) Welfare and Innovation
c) Quality
d) Environment
​
"
"
Aquaculture is among the
most sustainable ways to produce
animal protein and will be
essential in feeding the
world’s growing population.
Sergio Nates, Senior Director
for Aquaculture at WWF.
The Scottish Halibut Company will produce and supply 10,000 tonnes of premium branded Scottish halibut to customers around the world. This will be achieved over the next 15 years in 3 key phases:
1) Crawl: A broodstock and a hatchery operation capable of producing at least 300,000 juvenile halibut each year.
2) Walk: A grow-out site with the initial infrastructure to produce 2,000 tonnes of market-size halibut each year and increased hatchery capacity to 2 million juveniles.
3) Run: Increased grow-out capacity, enough to produce 10,000 tonnes a year.
"
Aquaculture is potentially
the largest sustainable food
investment opportunity over
the next 25 years:
Creating 20 million jobs by 2050,
and a $1.5 trillion investment opportunity.
World Bank & World Wildlife Fund -
Harnessing the Waters:
A Trillion Dollar Investment Opportunity
in Sustainable Aquaculture.
"
Highly credible
and experienced
leadership team.
Founding Team
Nigel J Mills CBE
Nigel is a serial entrepreneur and investor with 30+ years of experience
in the food, beverage and hospitality sector.
He co-founded The Lakes Distillery
and sold it to Nyetimber Sparkling
Wine in June 2024 for £71m.
Ed Tame
Co-founder &
Ed has 15 years’ experience leading businesses in aquaculture and wider food system. He ran Scotland’s only Atlantic halibut hatchery & grow-out farm – Gigha halibut, known by name
on leading white tablecloth
restaurants in the UK and overseas.
CEO
Co-founder &
Chairman
Consultants & Advisors
Consultant
Nick Joy
Nick founded Loch Duart Salmon Ltd in 1999 and was managing director for 15 years. Grew its’ turnover from £3.4m to £24m. Built global brand recognition.
Still regarded as the finest
Scottish salmon you can buy.
Michael Kelly
Morton Fraser MacRoberts –
Partner
Michael is a balanced and pragmatic
Corporate adviser, working through complex and high value transactions in a straightforward and commercial manner.
Stuart Millar
Greaves West & Ayre -
Accountant
Stuart qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2017 after studying at Glasgow University. In 2021, named in the prestigious
Accountancy awards 35 under 35 list
showcasing rising stars.
Mark Shotter
Sunbird Consulting -
Site Development
Mark is a Project Development Professional specialising in the aquaculture and renewable sectors.
He has led the development of sustainable aquaculture
projects in Scotland for Loch Long Salmon and Simply Blue Group.
David McGuire
Morton Fraser MacRoberts –
Partner
David has a considerable experience in commercial property, with a particular focus on renewable energy and extensive experience in hotel and commercial developments.
AAB –
Corporate Finance Partner
Iain Walker
Iain has 20 years’ experience in Corporate Finance, both in the UK and overseas. Worked in the M&A team of an AIM listed business. A Chartered Accountant, Chartered Business Valuer and Accredited in Business Valuations.
