MARINE Harvest has hailed a strong performance in Scotland with its operational earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) doubling in the first quarter of 2017 as it moved on from previous problems at its Rosyth plant.

EBIT at the Norwegian salmon producer for the period was €220 million, up from €112m in the same period of 2016. Revenue climbed ten per cent to €892m.

In Scotland, the operational EBIT was €55.4m, up from €8.5m in the same period last year, which was hit by issues at its Rosyth facility. Harvest volume was up by more than 4,000 tonnes to 17,772 tonnes.

The record results in the quarter in Scotland was down to strong prices, increased harvest volume and harvesting from good performing sites, the company said.

Harvested volume from its salmon farms in Scotland were largely unchanged compared to the same period last year which was slightly less than expected. However Scotland harvested an increased share of large-sized fish.