Scottish salmon industry contributes almost GBP 1 billion to the economy each year and supports 11,000 jobs across Scotland, many of them in rural and coastal communities.
Photo: Salmon Scotland.
With the Scottish Parliament elections approaching—to be held on May 7—Scotland's salmon industry has sent a letter this week to all candidates arguing that red tape is putting the country at a competitive disadvantage, and making its "wish list" for the next government to solve it.
Sent by trade body Salmon Scotland and backed by 60 businesses, including producers and supply chain companies, in this joint letter, the sector urges the next Scottish Government to cut red tape and support jobs, investment, and export growth.
At one point in the letter, the signatories declare: "At present, Scotland's salmon sector faces a complex, protracted and fragmented consenting and regulatory landscape, which places producers and supply-chain businesses at a disadvantage compared with international competitors."
The trade body considers that the next Scottish Government should finally implement the recommendations of an independent 2022 review of aquaculture regulation in Scotland by Professor Russel Griggs, which suggested emulating Norway's system, simplifying licensing, including a one-stop shop for aquaculture, and a 10-year regulatory framework.
According to Salmon Scotland, reducing delays and simplifying the system would help unlock growth, support employment and give businesses the certainty needed to invest, generating vital wealth for communities across Scotland.
As the 60 signatory businesses remind the candidates, the salmon industry contributes almost GBP 1 billion to the economy each year and supports 11,000 jobs across Scotland, many of them in rural and coastal communities.
In the Highlands alone, salmon farming generates GBP 307 million and supports 3,530 jobs, with average wages of GBP 44,500. This is around 16% higher than the national average, which, Salmon Scotland notes, underlines the sector's role in supporting local communities.
Furthermore, the trade body also highlighted the significant investment in innovation the industry has undertaken since 2018 to improve fish health and welfare, alongside broader efforts to support sustainable growth. Last September, Salmon Scotland sent a letter to the Scottish Parliament's Rural Affairs and Islands Committee (RAIC) outlining the sector's latest achievements through this investment.
"Scotland has built a world-class salmon sector that supports thousands of jobs and brings significant investment into rural and coastal communities," Tavish Scott, CEO of Salmon Scotland, states now in the release announcing the sending of the letter.
"But we cannot take that success for granted. Right now, red tape and delay are making it harder for businesses to invest, expand, and compete internationally at exactly the wrong time," he adds.
With international sales reaching GBP 828 million in 2025 and domestic sales valued at GBP 1.5 billion, Scottish salmon is the UK's top food export and remains the country's most popular fish.
Now, with new export opportunities opening up, including in India and South Korea, the letter's signatories argue that Scotland should make it easier, not harder, for businesses to invest and grow. In its statement, Salmon Scotland claims that the next government now has a clear opportunity to change course. "There is a real opportunity to grow further and strengthen our position as the UK's top food export," Scott claims, echoing that idea.
"This election is a moment for candidates to show they understand the value of the sector and the role it plays in supporting communities across the country," he continues. "If Scotland wants jobs, growth, and thriving rural economies, the next Scottish Government must back practical reform that cuts delays and gives businesses the confidence to invest."
In addition to the letter, Salmon Scotland members have also been organizing visits for candidates across the political spectrum ahead of the May 7th vote, as at one point in the letter, they state: "We recognize that many candidates may be new to the sector."
However, senior regulatory expert and sustainability specialist Anne Anderson, who recently stated that this election could and should be a "watershed moment" for salmon farming in Scotland, doesn't see it that way.
"The landmark Parliamentary inquiry into salmon farming in 2018 and subsequent reviews highlight that politicians from all parties recognise how important the sector is to Scotland, particularly its rural communities," she said.
"However, these same reviews also highlight that the original areas of concern remain. Namely, fish welfare, environmental impact, prolonged consultation processes, regulatory delay, and unclear accountability," continued Anderson, who in February launched specialist consultancy TirMara Advisory.
In fact, a sign that these concerns remain present in the public conversation, beyond the industry or the Scottish Parliament itself, is that one of the parties running in these elections, the Scottish Green Party, has released a manifesto pledging to pause all new salmon farms and any expansions of existing ones until the industry demonstrably improves fish welfare.
In Anderson's view, a new government alone will not bring the necessary level of change, so she urged all sides of the debate—for, against, and undecided—to adopt a more collaborative approach. "It's time to relinquish the old ways of doing and thinking and move forward in a manner that's as inclusive and respectful of all interests as it is informed by robust science," she stated.
