The public can help Scot-Hatch win this competition by voting at

http://www.virginmediabusiness.co.uk/pitch-to-rich/new-things/scot-hatch-limited/ or at scothatch.com where there is more information on this exciting business. One lucky voter will win £10,000 from Virgin Business. (UK residents, +18 only)

Grant Campbell ‘I am a scallop diver and a Director of a company trying to establish a sustainable scallop fishery through the use of hatchery produced spat. Needs must and we are in a competition to win investment from Sir Richard Branson, described in the Press release below. Currently this great innovation in sustainable fishing is being beaten by a surfboard, an outdoor oven and a vending machine? Please read on and hopefully you will vote for us and if you are minded to share it with your huge contact list, I would be very grateful. We are divers and fisherman caught in a social media contest…. not good. Cheers,

Highland company Scot-Hatch Limited has qualified as one of ten semi-finalists in the “New Things” category in the Pitch to Rich competition run by Virgin Media Business, beating over 850 other UK entrants along the way.  Their “New Thing” is Scallop Ranching, new to Scotland but is a method that has been used in other parts of the world to sustainably increase the production of scallops. Japan reversed the decline in their natural scallop fishery, increasing production from 10,000 T to 400,000T using ranching techniques.

Ranched scallops are produced in a hatchery and are cared for until large enough to be released to the seabed. After 3-4 years the scallops are big enough to harvest. In the production process no chemicals, antibiotics or pesticides are used. The scallops require no artificial feed; they feed for free in the sea.   Scot-Hatch wants to inspire a new scallop ranching industry in Scotland that will create many jobs and is truly sustainable.

The final of the competition is on the 26^th June, when 3 “New Things” will get the chance to put their business plan in front of a panel of judges which includes Sir Richard Branson. The 3 finalists will be chosen by a public online vote between the 2^nd and 16^th of June.  The public can help Scot-Hatch win this competition by voting at

http://www.virginmediabusiness.co.uk/pitch-to-rich/new-things/scot-hatch-limited/ or at scothatch.com where there is more information on this exciting business. One lucky voter will win £10,000 from Virgin Business. (UK residents, +18 only)