The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Challenges despite a record £1bn salmon haul
Fish-farming industry facing Brexit and livestock health impacts
Scottish salmon production topped £1 billion for the first time in 2017 but Brexit and gill-health issues could impact on output this year.
Gilpin Bradley, chairman of the Perthbased Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO), said fish farmers were working hard to ensure the sector continued to prosper.
“Salmon farmers have invested more than £60m in new technologies, improved farming techniques and cleaner fish to remove naturally occurring sea lice which thrive in the warm temperatures,” Mr Bradley said.
“Farmers continue to work hard to improve fish health and salmon survival and we are seeing benefits coming from the new innovations.
“It is encouraging to see that the report confirms an improvement in the industry’s survival figures as a result of the ongoing investment in this area.
“Farmers are leading contributors to the Scottish Government’s Farmed Fish Health Framework, the 10-year strategy for continued improvement in fish health and to encourage collaboration between industry, regulators and scientists.”
New official figures show a record total of 189,707 tonnes of fish was harvested during 2017, with three million smolts put to sea to mature.
However, the SSPO said that a dip in production was expected in 2018 as a result of a gill-health issue, and the sector was also facing uncertainty from Brexit.
Mr Bradley said: “Demand for quality Scottish salmon continues to outstrip supply and the sector aspires to grow to meet demand but we also recognise the importance of steady, sustainable development.
“These new figures, alongside the investment in tackling emerging challenges give us great confidence in the sector’s ability for sustainable growth over the coming years.”
Fisheries minister Fergus Ewing said the sector was a “huge success story” that was under direct threat from Brexit.
He said: “That poses a major threat to the continued growth and success of the Scottish aquaculture sector, risking jobs, investment and livelihoods.
“That is why we continue to press strongly for Scotland and the rest of the UK to remain in the European single market and customs ghuband@thecourier.co.uk