"Scottish salmon farmers provide the highest standards anywhere in the world for the animals in their care," said Salmon Scotland's CEO.
Photo: Bakkafrost Scotland.
Figures released this week by Salmon Scotland revealed that the survival rate of farmed salmon on Scottish farms reached 98.18% in September, traditionally the most challenging month for salmon at sea.
In September 2024 there were 210 active salmon farms in Scotland. Of these, 123 (or 59%) were stocked at some time during the month, while 87 (or 41%) were fallow or empty.
The percentage of fish lost at these active fish farms was about half the rate recorded in September last year when high sea temperatures in autumn caused a proliferation of micro jellyfish that can harm fish. Specifically, the mortality rate for September 2024 was 1.82% compared to 3.23% in September 2023.
Throughout 2024, survival rates for Scottish salmon have remained consistently high, reaching 99.03% in June. Salmon Scotland points out that their wild relatives only have a survival rate of between 1% and 2%, given the many challenges of the natural environment.
In Scotland, the farmed salmon sector invests millions of pounds each year in measures to improve animal health and welfare, which, according to Salmon Scotland, means it is already meeting the highest standards in the world.
As said, the salmon industry trade body claimed that it has been the investment of nearly GBP 1,000 million (EUR 1.193 million / USD 1.297 million) in fish health and welfare which has contributed to getting the best survival rate in the sector since 2020. Specifically, since 2018, GBP 975 million (EUR 1.162 million / USD 1.265 million) has been invested.
Freshwater treatment vessels, investment in research, reducing the time farm-raised salmon spend at sea - the so-called post-smolt -, as well as staff training and improved monitoring systems to help farmers respond to natural challenges such as jellyfish blooms and warming seawater, are some of the destinations of that investment.
"Scottish salmon farmers provide the highest standards anywhere in the world for the animals in their care," said Salmon Scotland CEO, Tavish Scott. "And while no farmer wants to lose any animal, the care our farmers provide means that survival rates for farm-raised salmon – which spend up to 18 months in the sea – are dramatically higher than their wild cousins."
"It is testament to the dedication of farmers that survival rates on Scottish salmon farms are now at the highest level since 2020," he concluded.
In addition, Salmon Scotland also pointed out that aquaculture is the only farming sector to voluntarily publish monthly survival reports. It warned this in anticipation of the publication also this week of the 2023 annual production survey by the Scottish Government which, according to the trade body, would show a decrease in volumes "due to the environmental challenges widely reported at the time."
The time lag - Salmon Scotland claimed - will not record that the situation has transformed significantly since then, with a 15% increase in production in the first half of 2024 (of 86,600 tonnes, up from approximately 75,000 tonnes) compared to the same period last year.
Scottish farm-raised salmon is the UK's largest food export. In the first half of 2024, its export sales surged by 41% driven by significant growth in key markets across Asia and the United States. The figures reveal that between January and June, it generated GBP 431 million (EUR 513.9 million / USD 559.2 million) in revenue.