Yesterday WeAreAquaculture reported on the unprecedented marine heatwave currently affecting the northeast Atlantic and the North Sea. We reached out to Salmon Scotland, the trade body for the salmon farming industry in Scotland, to find out about the sector's view on the ongoing marine heatwave and possible effects on aquaculture operations in the country.
Dr Iain Berrill, head of technical at Salmon Scotland, says that despite the "anomalous temperature spikes" in some locations around the British Isles, the observed water temperatures in salmon farming zones are "still within normal ranges for salmon".
Optimal water temperatures for post-smolt Atlantic salmon are between 10°C and 18°C, with fish welfare decreasing significantly above 18°C, according to research by the University of Bergen.
Currently in the North-East Atlantic, seawater temperatures in excess of 18°C have already been recorded, in comparison to average temperatures of 11-14°C in the same period in other years, according to Dr Dan Smale of the UK's Marine Biological Association, in a statement sent to WeAreAquaculture yesterday.
However, the excessive temperatures are not currently affecting the principal areas where Scotland's salmon farming operations are located, Salmon Scotland has confirmed.
"While some oceans and seas are reporting anomalous temperature spikes, temperatures in the west coast of Scotland and the northern isles are still within normal ranges for salmon," Berrill stated.
"Our salmon farmers are carefully monitoring conditions on their farms and oxygenating the water where appropriate to provide optimal fish welfare," he explained.
"Elevated seawater temperatures are being reported right across the globe due to a number of oceanographic and atmospheric reasons. This reminds us of the risk of climate change and the important role aquaculture can play in producing low carbon protein to feed a growing global population without contributing to harmful climate change," Berrill added.