Marine Harvest Sells Selkirk Site For £1

The world's largest producer of farmed salmon has sold a 30-acre site in Selkirk to a local firm of property developers for £1.

The former Kendal Fish Farm at Ettrickhaugh Road had become a white elephant for Norwegian-based Marine Harvest, which has 7,500 employees worldwide, since it was forced to abandon plans for a smolt rearing facility.

That proposal, so close to the Ettrick Water, fell foul of the River Tweed Commissioners who feared the integrity of the indigenous Atlantic salmon, on which the economy of Tweed catchment depends, would be compromised if any cross breeding with the farmed variety took place.

The new owners are the father and daughter team of Alan and Phamie Beattie from Selkirk.

Trading under "It's Cauld Ltd", the pair concluded the deal with Marine Harvest on Tuesday.

The firm's name reflects the obligation on any owner to carry out major improvements to flood-damaged Murray's Cauld on the Ettrick Water which runs parallel to the site. The peppercorn price is testimony to the cost of that work, which has been estimated at up to £250,000

Read the full article in the Southern Reporter.