Site Details: Couldoran Incubation Unit

Couldoran
Kishorn
IV54 8UY
Operator: Bakkafrost Scotland
Water type: Freshwater

Fish Health Inspectorate mortality

Date:
05/12/22-11/12/22
Mortality:
1,159,752
Mortality Rate:
80.00%
Reason given: Stock Incident - inlet pipe became blocked and created a vortex, which supersaturated the comphatch water.
Stock Incident - inlet pipe became blocked and created a vortex, which supersaturated the comphatch water.
Remaining alevins culled as compromised with gas bubbles.
Business correspondent contacted for further info. Inlet pipe in dam has 2 screens on either side that are cleaned every day, however there is also an additional section underneath (2m down, hard to reach) which had became blocked by leaves. This caused the inlet pipe to draw air in through the compatches, causing gas bubble issues in the alevins. Before the next egg input is received at the end of January, a degasser will be added to the hatchery to avoid this issue in the future. No mortalities observed in the 70g smolts and their gills seem to have recovered fine from the incident.
Date:
26/02/24-03/03/24
Mortality:
153,592
Mortality Rate:
9.22%
Reason given: Development - unviable ova
Development - unviable ova
Historic event reported retrospectively due to error in company internal report was not split by FS number for location that had multiple FS numbers.
Date:
09/09/24-15/09/24
Mortality:
156,068
Mortality Rate:
9.60%
Reason given: Ova (unviable)
Ova (unviable)
FHI to monitor.
Date:
28/10/24-03/11/24
Mortality:
111,427
Mortality Rate:
7.64%
Reason given: Water Quality
Water Quality
Issue with pipe/filter blockage after heavy rainfall. FHI visit scheduled.

Source

Inspection reports

Case Number: 2020-0097


Download Ferguson transport completing uplift of mortalities, records show disposal to Deerdykes and also Energen biogas.
Two inputs from Stofnfiskur. No issues to note.
A couple of dead ova observed in each tray in the comp hatch. [Original PDF]

Case Number: 2022-0139


Download Site went fallow on 29th April
Site and paperwork inspected on 12/05/2022 by , supervised by [Original PDF]

Case Number: 2023-0199


Download Gas issue recorded on the site (w/b 5/12/2022) water demand to the hatchery tanks coupled with a suspected fracture in the site pipe resulted in vortex supersaturating air into the water lines. This was vented through the system into the comp hatches resulting in loss of 1159752 (80.01%), and the remainder of 289861 (19.99%) were euthanized. Additional drum filter has been installed on the influent water to ensure degassing prior to entering the comp hatches.
Site thermometer used for biosecurity reasons. [Original PDF]

Case Number: 2024-0061


Download Site thermometer used for biosecurity reasons the thermometer calibrated every two years by the lab, checked regularly with hand held probe.
Native Hebridean stock on site.
Four inputs each year.
Peaks in mortality 2023 wk 39 26378 (2.15%) (issue with a blocked pipe one tray affected). 2024 wk 01 58605 (3.24%) water quality due to blocked pipe, wk 4 37694 (2.14%) water quality issue due to blocked pipe.
Morts last 4 weeks w9 9 153592 (9.22%) failed hatch, wk 8 15216 (0.91%)failed hatch, wk 7 3653 (0.22%), wk 6 Fallow.
Buffodiene the only treatment used on site. [Original PDF]

Case Number: 2024-0443


Download Site inspected in association with a vet from APHA following a mortality report of 111,427 (7.64%) eggs in week 46 2024.
The site is gravity fed from a dam and while the hatchery (FS0301) supply goes through a header tank, this is bypassed for the incubation unit (FS1051). In the past, this caused issues with total gas pressure (TGP) in the incubation unit. The issue has been resolved by fitting a drum filter, however episodes of heavy rainfall cause debris to block the dam inlet screens and therefore let air into the system which then causes the CompHatch valves to stick and reduce the water flow into the trays - resulting in mortalities. A float switch alarm has been placed next to the drum filter to try and alert the site staff of any issues, but this has been ineffective as the water level dips pass too quickly to result in an alarm.
The farm manager has submitted a proposal to fit a partial recirculating system in the hatchery to solve the issue, and he is hoping it will be approved for set up in the spring. In the meantime, the screens and drum filter are being cleaned more regularly to avoid the creation of air pockets in the system.
The incubation unit is currently fallow but the fry was observed in the hatchery and appeared in good condition.
During the site inspection, it was observed that the size of the pipes feeding the incubation appear to increase and decrease in size, which is probably contributing to the problem of air entering the system. The farm manager is aware of the issue and is certain that setting up a buffer tank and a partial recirc for the incubation unit will solve the issue. [Original PDF]

Source