Embrace the salmon debate, don’t shoot it

Sir, – If Jenny Hjul (“Progress is in our hands”, The Courier, March 28) wants to see the salmon farming industry make economic progress, then she should embrace the debate over its failings rather than attempting to shame its critics.

There is no doubt the sector has seen strong economic success, but targets to double production by 2030 put the environment that sustains the health of the industry at risk.

Salmon farming has major problems, including catastrophic sea lice infestations and fish disease, environmental pollution of the seabed, impacts on dolphins through the use of acoustic deterrent devices, long-term scarcity of sustainable sources of marine feedstuff, damage to marine habitats and impact on wild salmon populations through genetic mixing.

It’s not just anglers and environmentalists who are vocal critics, the Scottish Parliament’s cross-party environment committee recently produced a damning report on the farmed salmon sector’s failings.

With the right attitude and industry leadership, the sector can address its problems and continue to grow.

There are many fish farms that, for example, don’t shoot seals and have found better technical solutions to seal predation problems.

These farms may continue to enjoy a lucrative US export market, those that don’t move with the times will not.

Shooting the messenger along with the seals will not address the problems. Mark Ruskell. MSP – Mid-Scotland and Fife Region, Scottish Green Party, 67a King Street, Stirling.

There are productive ways the Scottish salmon farming industry can address its problems.