GIGHA HALIBUT

On Gigha we grow the much sought after species, Atlantic Halibut – hippoglossus hippoglossus, not to be confused with Greenland Halibut, Mock Halibut or Chicken Halibut which are all recognised to be of inferior quality.

25 years ago, the records show that 5000 tonnes of Atlantic Halibut were being landed and imported to the UK. The stocks have been decimated and the wild catch reduced to 500 tonnes per annum.

Recognising the demise of the wild stock and the demand for premium fish, work on rearing halibut started 20 years ago. It had several features which made it attractive to culture. It grew well in water conditions off the west of Scotland, it had a good fillet yield and it converted well.

It did however prove an extremely tricky species to rear in the early hatchery stages.

It has a very prolonged egg and larval stage where the farmer endeavours to protect it from a volatile marine environment.

After 60 days, the larvae is ready to receive live feed and it is presented with an enriched microscopic brine shrimp.

Just when the young larvae thinks it is getting the hang of life, after 4 months it faces a stage of metamorphosis when it's head rotates around his body and it transforms from a pelagic larvae to a flat fish. At this stage, it starts to look like a very tiny halibut.

All this work is performed at the marine hatchery in Otter Ferry on Loch Fyne.

When the halibut are 1 and ½ years old they are taken to the island of Gigha where they are reared for a further 2 and ½ years.

OUR UNIQUE SYSTEM

Gigha halibut adopts a land – based system of aquaculture where the water is pumped onto the land and into tanks. The large flat solid based tanks are ideal for flat fish like halibut. The system has no adverse effect on the surrounding marine environment and is a system recommended by the Marine Conservation Society.

So when you enjoy your Gigha Halibut you can appreciate the 20 years of development work and the 4 years of care and attention that have gone into producing a fish of such quality.

If you have any questions about how we rear Gigha Halibut please get in touch, we would love to hear from you. Many of our customers have enjoyed visiting the island and seeing first hand the rearing of our extraordinary fish.