Brexit costing Scottish salmon industry £100m a year, CEO to tell committee
BREXIT is costing Scotland’s salmon industry £100 million a year, MSPs are set to be told. Tavish Scott, the chief executive of Salmon Scotland, is to highlight the impact leaving the European Union has had on Scottish exports as he gives evidence to the External Affairs Committee today.
He will also call on the next UK government “to ease the burden on exporters so that sectors like ours can sell more Scottish produce, delivering economic growth and creating jobs here at home”.
SNP MSP Alasdair Allan said the figures Scott will highlight are “absolutely devastating”, adding: “I cannot fathom why any political party would accept this.”
Scottish salmon was the UK’s largest food export in 2023, despite the fact that less of it was exported than before the Brexit deal came into effect in 2020.
In 2019, there were more than 53,000 tonnes of Scottish salmon exported to the EU, with the figure falling to 44,000 tonnes in 2023.
Export values to the EU were only down 3% to £356m – because strong global demand drove up prices. But if the sector had maintained volumes at 2019 levels, then sales would have been above £430m.
That means there has been a net “loss” of around £75m, or up to £100m had the sector grown at the rate previously expected, Salmon Scotland said in a press release.
The body also said the Brexit impact of lost sales does not include the direct £3m-a-year cost to farming companies because of the lack of an e-certification scheme.
Allan said: “Westminster’s Brexit obsession has left the Scottish salmon sector facing a myriad of trade barriers and costs, with no end in sight as part of a broken Britain.
“Facing a net loss of around £100m, several million in additional costs for farmers and lost economic growth that we would have enjoyed as part of the EU is utterly devastating, and I cannot fathom why any political party would accept this.
“The harm to this industry – along with countless others – is clear as day, and yet the Tories and Labour are resolutely committed to the very Westminster consensus that has inflicted this harm.
“The SNP government is doing what it can with very limited powers to support Scottish salmon producers, mitigating the real-world consequences of Westminster’s dysfunction, but only with independence can we end this damage once and for all.”
Scott said: “Scottish salmon is the UK’s largest food export and a major contributor to our economy, with demand rising at home and abroad.
“And despite soaring sales to Asia and the US, the EU is still the most significant region for our exports, accounting for more than 60% of international sales.
“The world-renowned quality of nutritious low-carbon Scottish salmon means that we could significantly grow markets such as Spain, Italy and the Netherlands.
“But Brexit red tape continues to hold back the potential of Scottish exports, despite the hard work and investment put in by farmers to address the issues.
“We need the next UK government – whatever formation it is – to ease the burden on exporters so that sectors like ours can sell more Scottish produce, delivering economic growth and creating jobs here at home.”
FILM crews took over a street in Clydebank yesterday as filming continued on a new series of popular BBC crime drama Shetland.
Last week, several residents in the town’s Parkhall area received a letter from Silverprint Pictures, who are shooting the ninth series of the show which will air on the BBC, stating that crews would be in the area.
Shooting for series nine of the drama started this month after it was confirmed that the show had been recommissioned by the BBC for two new series.
It is reported that these will be filmed in locations around Shetland, where the show is based, and across Scotland in 2024/25.
Previous series of Shetland were a dramatisation of author Ann Cleeves’s murder mystery novels.
However the last and latest are original six-part dramas based on the same characters as the books.
AN “iconic” Edinburgh hotel is set to receive a multi-million-pound transformation.
The Caledonian, also known as the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh, will become part of Curio Collection by Hilton this summer.
The new investment of more than £35 million in the Princes Street hotel known affectionately as “The Caley” will see improvements in the infrastructure as well as bedroom refurbishment and the upgrading and restoring of its public areas.
Situated at the west end of Princes Street, there are also plans to extend the hotel – expanding its capacity to over 300 rooms by early 2026.
The Caledonian was constructed from 1899 to 1908 and was originally owned by the Caledonian Railway Company, from which the hotel takes its name.
It has welcomed guests from all over the world and hosted famous faces such as Queen Elizabeth II and former US president Barack Obama.
Christophe Kuhbier, managing director at Henderson Park, commented: “Our continued investment in The Caledonian is testament to our stewardship of this iconic hotel, which has been a bastion of Edinburgh hospitality over a century.
“We look forward to working with Hilton and Klarent, our specialist hospitality operator, to unlock The Caledonian’s full value potential on behalf of our investors and ensure it continues to enchant guests for many years to come.”
Peter Stack, chief executive of Klarent Hospitality, added: “We have committed to the significant investment and transformation that will see The Caledonian as a worldrenowned, leading hotel at the heart of Edinburgh.
“We are delighted to celebrate the hotel’s 120th anniversary and look forward to working with the hotel team creating the next chapter for The Caley.”
Stephen Cassidy, Hilton’s UK and Ireland managing director, said: “The hotel is a hugely important member of the Hilton portfolio, and this exciting rebrand empowers its exceptional team to elevate the rich storytelling opportunities and continue to celebrate the hotel’s heritage.”