32 11 APRIL 2024 VIP VERY IMPORTANT PRODUCER “I’m a self-confessed fish geek,” says Andrew Davie, Aquascot’s head of aquaculture. “As a kid, I was obsessed with fishing, and that interest took me to studying aquaculture at university, then into academic research. I see that same fascination with fish in the people at the farms we work with. They have a real connection with their stock, just like a farmer on land does. “Aquascot is the link between Waitrose and the farms – the supermarket’s customers rightly have high expectations of the quality and provenance of the food they buy, and it’s our role to make sure the fish on Waitrose shelves meets those expectations. Our Feet on the Farm programme means we assess every farm and every production cycle – that means around 100 visits a year. “Through the supply chain, from Waitrose ‘Just as a land farmer observes their sheep or cows, our farmers know if their fish are happy or not’ ‘WE’RE MAKING SURE THE FISH LIVE A GOOD LIFE’ Visiting the Shetlands in a winter storm is par for the course for the Aquascot team, who source salmon from farms around the coast of Scotland for Waitrose to us, to the farmers, making sure the fish live a good life is a priority. All the farms work to the RSPCA Assured standard, which among other things, states that fish can only take up 1.5% of space in a pen. “So within these large and deep pens you won’t necessarily see any fish from above. But all the farms have underwater cameras, and when you stand in front of the screens with people who’ve worked with salmon for a long time, you see the connection they have. Just as a land farmer observes their sheep or cows, they instinctively know if they’re looking at happy fish or not. “Farm locations are chosen because they’re good for the fish, with clean water and good, strong currents, but that can mean they’re not the easiest to get to, especially in winter. There’s always a risk of getting stuck if ferries are cancelled, and you soon collect weird and wonderful winter travel stories! “But in summer, there’s nothing more stunning than being in the outer isles of Orkney under a blazing blue sky, with crystal clear calm sea and no one around. You feel privileged to be there, and to be working with people so dedicated to what they do.” See what our farmers are doing on Instagram – @waitrosefarmers
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDY5NzE=