Members of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee (RAIC) visited Scottish Sea Farms on 23 September, as part of its enquiry into salmon farming in scotland.
Photo: Scottish Sea Farms
The long-term sustainability of Scotland's salmon farming industry has come under scrutiny in recent months, with the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee now urging immediate action to address regulatory gaps and ensure sustainable growth.
Following an enquiry conducted between June and October 2024, which included consultations, site visits and evidence hearings with regulators, stakeholders, fish farm producers and the Scottish Government, the Committee has published its report, Follow-up Inquiry into Salmon Farming in Scotland. The Committee has criticized the slow implementation of recommendations made by its predecessor in 2018, and has now called on the Scottish Government to provide a clear, time-bound plan to implement both the 2018 and newly-issued recommendations within the next year.
“We recognise the importance of the salmon farming industry to the Scottish economy and the jobs it supports in many rural and island communities. We also realise the efforts made by the industry to invest and innovate to overcome the new and unpredictable challenges it faces," said Committee Convener Finlay Carson MSP.
“But further progress should have been made in implementing the REC Committee’s recommendations of 2018 as well as anticipating the impact of climate change and rising sea temperatures on the industry. This would have helped address some of the polarised views the industry is currently facing in relation to the production process," he noted.
“Ultimately, it is the Scottish Government's role, as well as the industry's, to drive the change agenda required to allow science, research and the regulatory landscape to keep pace with the rapidly changing marine environment. That is why we are calling for the Scottish Government to redouble its focus on regulatory issues to ensure that this industry, which is so important to the Scottish economy, is both future-proofed and enabled to grow sustainably," Carson added.
The report highlights several critical areas for reform, with fish mortality at the top of the list, in addition to the need for new regulatory standards on fish welfare, stricter reporting on sea lice, and "accelerated" research on the environmental impacts of salmon farming.
On fish mortality, the Committee recommended empowering the Fish Health Inspectorate to limit or halt operations at sites with persistently high mortality rates.
The committee also called for improved modelling to identify environmental conditions that lead to high mortality and the establishment of early-warning systems to mitigate such risks, and urged for comprehensive, transparent reporting of mortality data. This would mean operators would be obliged to detail figures for dead fish and cleaner species, and cumulative totals at the end of each production cycle.
The welfare of farmed fish was another priority area for the Committee, who have made recommendations for new regulatory standards under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 to establish baseline welfare criteria. The Committee also requested an evaluation of the ethics and welfare implications of using cleaner fish to control sea lice infestations.
On the issue of sea lice, the Committee called for stricter reporting conditions, ensuring weekly counts are consistently submitted to the Fish Health Inspectorate, even for stock undergoing treatment or being prepared for harvest.
It also recommended halting new farm developments near migratory routes for wild salmon and urged the Scottish Government to expedite the implementation of outstanding recommendations from the Salmon Interactions Working Group.
Regarding the marine environment, the Committee stressed the need for accelerated research into the environmental impacts of salmon farming, particularly the effects of chemical discharges and waste on surrounding ecosystems. It suggested establishing dedicated research pens through collaboration between industry and academia, with funding contributions to come from industry.
The report also highlighted the need for greater transparency and improved planning going ahead. The Committee highlighted the need to upgrade the Scotland’s Aquaculture website to improve public access to data. Additionally, it called for addressing delays in the planning and consenting process, particularly to facilitate the relocation of farms to environmentally suitable locations.
The Committee noted ongoing debates over a potential moratorium on new salmon farming sites due to environmental and mortality concerns. While some members dissented, the Committee ultimately decided against recommending a moratorium, citing uncertainties about its impact on local economies and employment.
The Committee has called for dedicated ministerial oversight to drive implementation and will revisit the progress in one year, with the possibility of further recommendations.
The full report is available online for public review.