News

Mowi Scotland is celebrating a major milestone—six decades since its first salmon farming trials in the country. What started as an experiment has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry that supports jobs, innovation, and rural communities across the Highlands and Islands. From Small Beginnings to Industry Leader Sixty years ago, a group of determined fish farmers stocked the first generation of farmed salmon into Lochailort. Back then, the process was rudimentary. Fish were reared in small pens, and farmers relied on trial and error to refine their methods. Things look very different today. Mowi is now the largest salmon producer in…

Cutting-edge satellite technology is offering new ways to assess and predict landslide risks in Scotland's peatlands, a vital step in preserving these carbon-rich ecosystems. Researchers from the University of Nottingham and Peatland Action have demonstrated how space-based monitoring could revolutionize large-scale land stability assessments. Tracking Ground Movement with Satellite Data Peatland areas are prone to landslides, a natural hazard that has long been difficult to predict. To tackle this challenge, geoscience professor David Large and his team employed interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) to track ground movement across 20 different sites, spanning from Shetland to Dumfries and Galloway. This technique…

Fossilized footprints on the Isle of Skye are offering new insights into the behavior of predatory dinosaurs that roamed Scotland 167 million years ago. Originally mistaken for fish burrows, the tracks paint a vivid picture of an ancient lagoon where dinosaurs gathered in large numbers. A Discovery Decades in the Making In the early 1980s, paleontologists spotted peculiar impressions along the craggy coastline of Scotland’s Isle of Skye. At the time, the marks were thought to be the petrified burrows of ancient fish. That assumption remained largely unchallenged for decades. It wasn’t until 2019 that Tone Blakesley, then a graduate…

Canadian renewable energy company Boralex Inc. has officially started operations at its first wind farm in the United Kingdom. The Limekiln Wind Farm, located near Thurso in northern Scotland, boasts an installed capacity of 106 megawatts. The facility, backed by a 15-year public contract and a power purchase agreement, solidifies Boralex's expansion into the UK market. A Milestone for Boralex in the UK This project is a significant step for Boralex as it establishes its footprint in the UK’s renewable energy sector. The wind farm consists of 24 Vestas V136-4.5MW turbines, each standing 150 metres tall at the blade tip.…

Scotland's largest exporters to the United States are reeling after former President Donald Trump announced new tariffs, imposing a 10% levy on key products like whisky and salmon. The decision, revealed at the White House, has sparked concerns across industries that rely heavily on the U.S. market. The Scotch Whisky Association and other industry groups have called the move a setback, urging the UK government to continue negotiations to minimize the impact. Trump, in his statement, dubbed the tariff rollout "liberation day," insisting it would boost domestic production. Whisky Industry Braces for Financial Hit America remains the most lucrative market…

Esports, once dismissed as mere gaming, is now carving a niche in educational curricula. Selkirk High School in Scotland stands at the forefront, offering students a comprehensive look into the burgeoning esports industry.​ Beyond the Screen: A Holistic Approach At Selkirk High, the esports program isn't about logging hours in front of a console. Instead, it delves into the industry's history, business dynamics, and diverse career paths. Students like 16-year-old Alfie are discovering roles they hadn't imagined, from player nutritionists to event organizers. Alfie reflects, "I didn't know this, but you can be a nutritionist for players." ​ Organizing Tournaments:…

A fatal climbing accident on Scotland’s Ben Nevis has left one climber dead and another seriously injured after a 220-foot fall in the Moonlight Gully area. Rescue teams battled harsh weather to save one man and recover the body of his companion. The Fall That Led to a Rescue Mission A 30-year-old man was found alive and transported to Raigmore Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. His companion, a 22-year-old man, was not as fortunate. Rescuers returned to the mountain the following day to recover his body after severe weather conditions hampered immediate retrieval efforts. Ben Nevis, standing at 4,400 feet, is…

GoFibre is accelerating its broadband expansion across Scotland and northern England, promising faster, more reliable connectivity for thousands of households. By leveraging the Calix Broadband Platform, the company aims to streamline customer support, introduce new services swiftly, and offer a more personalized internet experience. Aiming for Market Leadership in Scotland’s Broadband Sector The race for broadband supremacy in the UK’s alternative network (altnet) sector is heating up, and GoFibre is making bold moves. Partnering with California-based Calix, the company is expanding its network coverage at an unprecedented pace. Every month, hundreds of new customers are gaining access to high-speed internet,…

The World Men's Curling Championships 2025 are underway in Moose Jaw, Canada, with teams battling for both the world title and crucial Olympic qualification points. With the competition running from March 29 to April 6, fans are witnessing some of the best curling action as national teams vie for dominance on the ice. Intense Competition in Moose Jaw The tournament features 13 teams from across the globe, each aiming for a place in the knockout stages and ultimately a shot at the title. The stakes are even higher this year, as the event is one of the last opportunities for…

The Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde and Deloitte have embarked on a year-long collaboration, Driving Growth: Innovation and Sustainability in Scotland, with the aim of shaping the future of Scotland's economy. Their focus? Digital innovation, artificial intelligence (AI), and the energy transition. The initiative has already started producing insights that could position Scotland as a global leader in high-tech sustainable solutions. The Role of AI and Digital Innovation in Scotland Scotland has long been a hub for technological advancements, and recent research underscores its potential. The latest report from the collaboration reveals that businesses in digital…