Site Details: Outer Bay (Loch Droighniche)

Badcall Salmon House
Scourie, Lairg
Sutherland
IV27 4TH
Operator: Loch Duart Ltd
Water type: Seawater

Average female lice per fish

Source

Salmon Scotland mortality

Source

Cumulative mortality over full production cycle

Outer Bay Production cycle end date: Aug 2019
Total losses: 0.1 %

Outer Bay Production cycle end date: Oct 2020
Total losses: 3.1 %

Outer Bay Production cycle end date: Sep 2021
Total losses: 8.3 %

Source

Fish Health Inspectorate mortality

Date:
24/03/25-30/03/25
Mortality:
251
Mortality Rate:
2.78%
Reason given: Seal predation
Seal predation
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net
FHI to monitor. Visit scheduled.
Date:
31/03/25-06/04/25
Mortality:
110
Mortality Rate:
1.25%
Reason given: Seal predation
Seal predation
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net
FHI to monitor. Visit scheduled.
Date:
07/04/25-13/04/25
Mortality:
92
Mortality Rate:
1.06%
Reason given: Seal predation
Seal predation
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net
FHI to monitor. Visit scheduled.
Date:
14/04/25-20/04/25
Mortality:
107
Mortality Rate:
1.25%
Reason given: Seal predation
Seal predation
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net
Historical submission. FHI visit scheduled.
Date:
21/04/25-27/04/25
Mortality:
97
Mortality Rate:
1.15%
Reason given: Seal predation
Seal predation
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net
Historical submission. FHI visit scheduled. Discrepancy with figures collected on site (case 2025-0145) due to admin error (site management changes underway at the time of inspection).
Date:
28/04/25-04/05/25
Mortality:
175
Mortality Rate:
2.09%
Reason given: Seal predation
Seal predation
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net
Historical submission. FHI visited 30/04/25 - case 20250145.
Date:
05/05/25-11/05/25
Mortality:
233
Mortality Rate:
2.84%
Reason given: Seal predation
Seal predation
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net
Historical submission. FHI visited 30/04/25 - case 20250145.
Date:
12/05/25-18/05/25
Mortality:
131
Mortality Rate:
1.59%
Reason given: Seal predation
Seal predation
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net
Historical submission. FHI visited 30/04/25 - case 20250145.
Date:
19/05/25-25/05/25
Mortality:
220
Mortality Rate:
2.72%
Reason given: Seal predation
Seal predation
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net
Historical submission. FHI visited 30/04/25 - case 20250145.
Date:
26/05/25-01/06/25
Mortality:
265
Mortality Rate:
3.37%
Reason given: Seal predation
Seal predation
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net
Historical submission. FHI to monitor.
Date:
02/06/25-08/06/25
Mortality:
279
Mortality Rate:
3.67%
Reason given: Seal predation
Seal predation
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net
Historical submission. FHI to monitor.
Date:
09/06/25-15/06/25
Mortality:
174
Mortality Rate:
2.38%
Reason given: Seal predation
Seal predation
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net
Historical submission. Figures for weeks 25-27 requested. FHI to monitor.
Date:
16/06/25-22/06/25
Mortality:
115
Mortality Rate:
1.61%
Reason given: Seal predation
Seal predation
Plan to reduce fish number on site. Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net.
FHI to monitor.
Date:
23/06/25-29/06/25
Mortality:
156
Mortality Rate:
2.41%
Reason given: Seal predation
Seal predation
Plan to reduce fish number on site. Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net.
FHI to monitor.
Date:
30/06/25-06/07/25
Mortality:
154
Mortality Rate:
2.5%
Reason given: Seal predation
Seal predation
Plan to reduce fish number on site. Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net.
Reported to APHA. FHI to monitor.
Date:
07/07/25-13/07/25
Mortality:
131
Mortality Rate:
2.3%
Reason given: Seal predation
Seal predation
Site undergoing handling event to reduce fish number on site. Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net. Harvest to reduce total number of fish on site.
FHI to monitor. Amendment to mortality rate recorded (%) received on 15/08/2025.
Date:
14/07/25-20/07/25
Mortality:
184
Mortality Rate:
3.39%
Reason given: Seal predation
Seal predation
Site undergoing handling event to reduce fish number on site. Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net. Harvest to reduce total number of fish on site.
FHI to monitor. Amendment to mortality rate recorded (%) received on 15/08/2025.
Date:
21/07/25-27/07/25
Mortality:
147
Mortality Rate:
3.27%
Reason given: Seal predation
Seal predation
Site undergoing handling event to reduce fish number on site. Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net. Harvest to reduce total number of fish on site.
FHI to monitor. Amendment to mortality rate recorded (%) received on 15/08/2025.
Date:
28/07/25-03/08/25
Mortality:
152
Mortality Rate:
3.54%
Reason given: Seal predation and CMS
Seal predation and CMS
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net.
FHI to monitor
Date:
04/08/25-10/08/25
Mortality:
199
Mortality Rate:
4.81%
Reason given: Seal predation and CMS
Seal predation and CMS
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net.
FHI to monitor
Date:
11/08/25-17/08/25
Mortality:
272
Mortality Rate:
6.91%
Reason given: Seal predation and CMS
Seal predation and CMS
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net.
FHI to monitor. 05/09/25:Dates amended from wk34 to wk33
Date:
18/08/25-24/08/25
Mortality:
221
Mortality Rate:
6.03%
Reason given: Seal predation and CMS
Seal predation and CMS
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net.
FHI to monitor. 05/09/25:Dates amended from wk35 to wk34
Date:
25/08/25-31/08/25
Mortality:
372
Mortality Rate:
11.68%
Reason given: Seal predation and CMS
Seal predation and CMS
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net.
FHI to monitor.
Date:
01/09/25-07/09/25
Mortality:
360
Mortality Rate:
13.32%
Reason given: Seal predation and CMS
Seal predation and CMS
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net.
FHI to monitor.
Date:
08/09/25-14/09/25
Mortality:
204
Mortality Rate:
10.46%
Reason given: Seal predation and CMS
Seal predation and CMS
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net.
Reduced from last report, high percentage but low number of fish. FHI to monitor.
Date:
15/09/25-21/09/25
Mortality:
223
Mortality Rate:
12.77%
Reason given: Seal predation and CMS
Seal predation and CMS
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net. Anticipated to be fallow by the end of October, hoping to bring the transfer to FW forward if transport is available.
Business contacted for additonal information. FHI to monitor.
Date:
22/09/25-28/09/25
Mortality:
50
Mortality Rate:
12.41%
Reason given: CMS and Seal Predation
CMS and Seal Predation
Site fitted with HDPE pen nets & predator net. Business contacted - currently under 300 fish on site. The majority of fish on site were transferred to freshwater facilities in week 38. Site should be fallow by end of October depending on helicopter availability and weather windows.
Business contacted for further information. FHI to monitor.
Date:
29/09/25-05/10/25
Mortality:
77
Mortality Rate:
21.81%
Reason given: CMS and Seal Predation
CMS and Seal Predation
Site fitted with HDPE nets and predator net. Site should be fallow by end October - waiting on helicopter availability for last movement of fish..
Twenty-eighth consecutive report this cycle. Site to be fallow soon.
Date:
06/10/25-12/10/25
Mortality:
51
Mortality Rate:
18.48%
Reason given: CMS
CMS
Site awaiting remaining fish to be transferred by helicopter, to be fallowed in November
Business contacted for last 2 weeks mortalities.
Date:
13/10/25-19/10/25
Mortality:
100
Mortality Rate:
44.64%
Reason given: CMS
CMS
Remaining fish to be transferred to Freshwater (week 43)
Site now fallow.
Date:
20/10/25-26/10/25
Mortality:
120
Mortality Rate:
96.77%
Reason given: CMS
CMS
Remaining fish transferred to FW. Site now fallow
Site now fallow.
Date:
18/05/26-24/05/26
Mortality:
88
Mortality Rate:
1.24%
Reason given: Predation by seals
Predation by seals
Predator nets being re-worked and retensioned to try and help, aeration being used as a visual barrier.
First report this cycle. FHI to monitor.
Date:
25/05/26-31/05/26
Mortality:
100
Mortality Rate:
2.01%
Reason given: Post Treatment Handling
Post Treatment Handling
Salmosan Bath with Wellboat (Migdale) Large fish, cleaner fish being stocked as we speak as main control measure.
FHI to monitor.
Date:
01/06/26-07/06/26
Mortality:
322
Mortality Rate:
6.72%
Reason given: Post Treatment Handling
Post Treatment Handling
Salmosan Bath with Wellboat (Migdale) Large fish, some of which were reject pen.
Business contacted for additional information. Mortality mainly seen in one pen after treatment, veterinarian visit scheduled to assess. Site expected to be fallow September. FHI to monitor.
Date:
08/06/26-14/06/26
Mortality:
122
Mortality Rate:
2.5%
Reason given: Handling
Handling
Increase in mortality post Salmosan bath treatment. Vet out to visit site 23/06/2026, mortality has dropped since.
FHI to monitor.
Date:
15/06/26-21/06/26
Mortality:
176
Mortality Rate:
3.76%
Reason given: Gill health
Gill health
Harvest planned. Vet on site 23/06/2026. Supplementary oxygen installed.
FHI to monitor.
Date:
22/06/26-28/06/26
Mortality:
188
Mortality Rate:
4.3%
Reason given: Gill health
Gill health
Harvest planned. Vet on site 23/06/2026. Supplementary oxygen installed. Site expected to fallow in September.
FHI to monitor.
Date:
29/06/26-05/07/26
Mortality:
194
Mortality Rate:
4.88%
Reason given: Post Handling/Gill Health Challenge
Post Handling/Gill Health Challenge
Vet was on site 23/6/2026. O2 being applied to help gills. Site expected to fallow in September.
FHI to monitor.
Date:
06/07/26-12/07/26
Mortality:
243
Mortality Rate:
6.55%
Reason given: Predation/Gill health
Predation/Gill health
Site inspected week 29. FHI to monitor.
Date:
13/07/26-19/07/26
Mortality:
258
Mortality Rate:
7.44%
Reason given: Predation/Gill health
Predation/Gill health
Damage to the outer predator net. This allowed seals to pester the fish. Pred net was repaired and also checked 2 days later to ensure this was successful. Gills are showing signs of recovering and week 30 mortality has dropped to 2.80%.
Site inspected week 29. FHI to monitor.
Date:
20/07/26-26/07/26
Mortality:
88
Mortality Rate:
2.8%
Reason given: Predation/Gill health
Predation/Gill health
Site inspected week 29. Mortality reduced from previous week. FHI to monitor
Date:
27/07/26-02/08/26
Mortality:
36
Mortality Rate:
1.85%
Reason given: Predation/Gill health
Predation/Gill health
Mortality reducing. Broodstock to be transferred to FW by the end of August.
Site inspected week 29. FHI to monitor.

Source

Inspection reports

Case Number: 2022-0128


Download Wrasse mix of wild caught (Skye, Dorset, Cornwall) and farmed (Otter Ferry).
Three pens stocked. The weather was calm and sunny and the fish were being hand fed during the site inspection so they could be observed well. The fish were in great condition with no signs of damage and very little sea lice could be seen. Not all of the fish are selected for broodstock so some of the population is currently being harvested.
Sea lice only assessed visually so no records available. No treatments have been necessary since the site has started stocking broodstock. The fish had sea lice issue last summer at Clashnessie Bay, so they were temporarily transferred to
Sound of Harris before being moved to Outer Bay in December 2021. The movement had been risk assessed and the fish have not had sea lice issues since. [Original PDF]

Case Number: 2025-0145


Download Fish transferred in December 2024 from Loch A Chairn Bhain (FS0621) and Clashnessie Bay (FS0933).
Wrasse (wild) transferred in April 2025 from Loch A Chairn Bhain (FS0621) and Loch Laxford (FS0067).
Good visibility into the pens, no predator damage visible on the fish. Fish appeared in good condition and no clinical signs of disease were observed.
No treatments carried out on site. Sea lice checks carried out visually without removing the fish from the pens to minimise stress on the broodstock. [Original PDF]

Case Number: 2026-0262


Download The site was inspected following reports of elevated mortality from the company and third party communication. The visit was conducted alongside APHA who carried out a welfare inspection.
The salmon were transferred to the site in January 2026 from Clashnessie Bay (FS0933). The salmon were transferred alongside wrasse, however further cleanerfish were also introduced in June 2026. The site staff believes that the wrasse may be targeting not only the sea lice but also occasionally the eyes of the salmon, causing blindness in a small percentage of the stock. Feed blocks are available for the wrasse to supplement feeding. Furnculosis was diagnosed in March, and an in ‑feed antibiotic treatment was administered.
The site has been reporting mortalities above 1%/week between weeks 21 and 27 2026. These have been attributed to a series of causes including seal predation, treatment handling and gill health. A Salmosan treatment was carried out in week
22. The site staff also expressed current challenges with early maturation in the broodstock and appetite reduction. Harvest has been planned for the fish that haven't been selected as broodstock, while the broodstock is expected to be transferred off site by the end of August/early September.
During the visit, every pen was inspected and visibility was very clear. The main population appeared in good condition and exhibited normal swimming behaviour. A small number of lethargic fish could be observed in the pens, these were smaller than the average population and presented eye lesions and snout damage. Sea lice could also be observed on these fish although not in high numbers. One moribund was present at the time of inspection. The fish was removed from the pen for further analysis. The salmon presented bilateral eye damage and moderate gill damage. Internally, the fish was a mature female and there was no feed presence in the stomach or gut but otherwise no other internal changes were noted. Four mortalities had been removed from the site on the morning of inspection, these could be observed in the mort bin.
Partial mortality for week 29: 242 (6.97%), mostly attributed to seal predation and mostly from P3. No signs of predator damage were observed during the inspection. An outer predator net is anchored around the steel pens to prevent access to the stock. Divers are scheduled to inspect the predator net for potential issues with holes or the tensioning.
Update 21/07: divers visited 17/07 and found and repaired a hole in the bottom of the outside predator net. No damage to the production nets reported. Full mortality for week 29: 258 (7.44%). Partial mortality for week 30: 29 fish (no longer driven by P3, no predator damage observed). [Original PDF]

Source