An application has been made to North Ayrshire Council for a new salmon farm development at Hunterston, which is expected to bring 35 jobs to the district.

The proposal by Faroe Islands firm Bakkafrost includes buildings, access roads, parking, landscaping and other required infrastructure, and employs state of the art environmental technology from Norway.

Bakkafrost Scotland is a leading producer of the finest quality Scottish salmon, operating over 35 sites across the West Coast of Scotland and Hebridean Islands.

They employ more 400 people across remote communities and say that they are 'passionately committed to the environmental, cultural and economic sustainability of rural Scotland.'

A spokesperson said: "Bakkafrost's ambition is to be the leading, most sustainable salmon producer in Scotland.

"Bakkafrost propose a recirculating aquaculture system at Fairlie, which is a land-based system for rearing larger juvenile salmon, reducing the marine production cycle."

The developers state that the technology is a closed land-based, environmental friendly aquaculture system which allows fish to be reared for longer in freshwater tanks before being moved to marine sites.

(Image: Bakkafrost)

Greater control of the freshwater rearing environment means larger smolt (juvenile salmon) can be produced which reduces the marine production cycle and in turn reduces the biological risk of rearing in the marine environment.

A visitor education facility and viewing gallery is also included within the proposal which, Bakkafrost say, will also bring wider economic benefits to the area.

The development also incorporates a new administration and education centre for Bakkafrost Scotland.

The building will include offices, meeting spaces, laboratory and control room areas, staff facilities and an educational facility.

(Image: Bakkafrost)

The proposal also sets out the technological process involved. It states; "It is a closed and environmentally friendly production system, which utilises water sources better than traditional flow-through and re-use facilities.

"Small quantities of new water into the system allow the water to be well treated, thus preventing fish from being infected.

"Feed residues and faeces are filtered out of the water and taken care of and further processed for example fertilizer and energy. Nofitech (Norwegian Fishfarming Technologies)  is constantly working to develop ever-better solutions for the sustainable use of all waste streams from the systems."

Nofitech was established in 2011 by the founders Geir Løvik and John Hestad. Their ambition was to develop the market’s most cost-effective and compact aquaculture solution, and the facilities have produced many generations of fish with excellent production results, say Bakkafrost.

The proposals also include solar panels to all buildings, saltwater heat exchanger and efficiency maximisation systems, and an energy efficient building.

Pre-consultation events have also been held in Fairlie in relation to the development.

The application is available for viewing on the North Ayrshire Council website here.