Last updated at 15:28, Friday, 22 February 2013

A north Cumbrian man has been recognised as being a pioneering figure in the Scottish fish farming industry.

Paul Irving

Paul Irving, who works at Armathwaite’s Holmwrangle Hatchery and lives in the Eden Valley, has been honoured as one of the sector’s founding fathers.

His accolade has come through the respected industry journal Fish Farmer.

Paul, who has been in the industry for almost 35 years, is currently the freshwater manager at Meridian Salmon Group’s operation in Cumbria, having begun his career with the firm in 1977.

Although the fish farm on which he works is south of the border, Meridian is a Scottish firm, with Paul’s work contributing to that.

Speaking of Scotland’s salmon farming industry and the sometimes unappreciated role it plays in the country’s economic fortunes, Paul said: “I find salmon fascinating in their own right and it is such a long cycle, there are so many different challenges, but this is also more rewarding.

“The job has given me the chance to live and work in a fantastic environment in the place I grew up in and others like the remote areas of Scotland.

“I believe that the most important people in the industry are the husbandry staff who are in daily contact with the fish and their environment.”

Meridian managing director Mark Warrington said he was pleased Paul had been named as one of the industry’s most highly-regarded professionals.

The firm operates at 61 sea and 19 freshwater sites in Scotland and Cumbria.

First published at 15:05, Friday, 22 February 2013
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk