Highs, lows and technical challenges of pioneering Scottish salmon farms

Dave Cockerill is the Biology Director at Bakkafrost Scotland and will be speaking to us about the career journey that led to his current role and the highs and lows involved in scaling a pioneering salmon farm in rural Scotland. He will discuss some of the technical challenges facing the sector, from understanding the salmon microbiome to tackling the problems created by climate change and associated rising sea temperatures, illustrating where there are opportunities for collaborations between academic researchers and industry practioners to solve these critical issues.

Bakkafrost are the leading producer of the finest quality Scottish salmon operating over 60 sites across the West Coast of Scotland and Hebridean Islands, employing over 400 people across these remote communities. Dave is a trained veterinarian with almost two decades of experience in the salmon farming sector, at Bakkafrost and Marine Harvest Scotland.