Fish & Farming | Trossach Country Foods
What started out as a hobby supplying fresh water fish to friends has blossomed into a career for Stuart Campbell Wilson, who now supplies chefs with a personal catch of Scottish brown trout, Arctic charr, fresh water eels, pike and perch.
Based on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, Stuart's firm Trossach Country Foods supplies a number of top restaurants with his freshwater fish, including Tom Kitchin in Edinburgh and Rogano in Glasgow.
Stuart has been involved in the nurturing of fish all his working life, at Glasgow University’s Research facility in Rowardennan, he has been working on a project to find a suitable, sustainable freshwater fish native to Scotland.
Arctic charr
The outcome from the research was a version of the fish called the Arctic Charr, an original invader from northern sea waters that was trapped in our Lochs during the ice age. Over the years it has adapted to suit freshwater and has been living amongst its cousins the Salmon and Trout relatively unknown since.
Arctic Charr are of the Salmonidae family so is closely related to both salmon and trout and has many characteristics of both. Similarities are in flesh and texture, but as it takes longer to mature, it is a taster fish, with the highest Omega 3 count of the group and the highest levels of protein per kilogram.
Generally, whole market sized fish are between 2 and 5 lb in weight (900g and 2.3 kg). The flesh colour of charr varies; it can 
range from a bright red to a pale pink, its skin has red flashes along its silvery scales, hence the red coat.
Stuart has a real passion for this fish and after the project came to an end he wanted to take it further and see if he could create a market for this superior product. It’s a big task to raise awareness and create a need but he has already made in roads with some influential businesses. The Oak Tree Inn, Balmaha was the test outlet for the Charr and in the last year they have sold over 1,600 fish providing an excellent profit and point of difference for the business.
With this success in hand Stuart is now approaching select outlets to distribute his precious wares promoting the health benefits of enriched omega 3 and protein compared to Trout and Salmon and the environmental consideration of over fishing.
Scottish Arctic Charr is only available through Trossachs Country Foods - if you require any further information please contact Stuart at Stuart@trossachscountryfoods.co.uk.