Familiar ground
Collaborative approach to growth discussed at meeting of international salmon groups
SC TLA D S salmon sector will collaborate with its international counterparts to address obstacles to growth, the Sco sh Salmon Producers rganisation s Scott Landsburgh said, ollowing a meeting in Norway recently. The nternational Salmon Farmers Association ( SFA) convened in Trondheim last month during the A ua or exhibition the final time the SSP will be represented at this gathering by Landsburgh, who retires at the end o the year.
He has witnessed many changes in the industry during his tenure and stands down amid hugely positive Sco sh salmon export figures.
He concedes, however, that many challenges remain or the industry which will entail even greater, aster trans ormation in the coming years.
Re ecting on the meeting, and on the challenges and issues discussed with his colleagues rom around the world, Landsburgh said At every meeting o SFA, each country presents an overview o its aspirations and challenges. t is interesting to note that every country arming Atlantic salmon has a plan to at least double its production but is being held back by a perception that its approach to environmental sustainability has to demonstrate improvement.
He went on to express his eelings o amiliarity with the discussion due to a very similar perception running in Scotland in recent years which has ocused on our ability to manage and control our sea lice burden .
Landsburgh said he came away rom the meeting with a sense that, on this specific issue, all jurisdictions are in a similar position and there ore need to collaborate on an international scale to access the optimum management tools.
SFA brings together the major salmon producing countries and regions via their respective trade associations to discuss issues acing the salmon industry across the globe. The Trondheim meeting covered a number o other topics, including the thorny issue o the recent Marine Mammal Protection Act in the S.
The nited States is Scotland s largest export market and anything that could potentially create a barrier to entry is clearly o serious concern.
The SSP is working with the Sco sh government and the European Commission to establish exactly what has to be done to ensure Sco sh salmon complies with the rules as stated in the Act.
As things stand, there is a concern that this implies the management and control o seal attacks by fish armers could be deemed contrary to the legislation and there ore clarification is urgently re uired.
SFA has a particular role to play as the member rom the Maine A uaculture Association is well connected in the Washington DC lobby, and is there ore an additional avenue or the SSP to use to establish the definitive legal position.
A dra report rom SFA entitled Salmon Farming Sustaining Communities and Feeding the World was published in advance o the meeting and also provided a ocus or discussions.
n it, key themes such as global population growth and the need to cater or this growth with affordable, healthy protein sources were highlighted and explained in detail.
The industry points to predictions made by the that there will be a global sea ood shortage o 50-80 million tonnes by 2030 and that the world ood supply needs to double by 2050.
The meeting, and A ua or, took place against the backdrop o a number o important events affecting the salmon industry, at home and abroad.
Environmental actors always a potential concern or salmon armers continue to plague parts o the global sector. n Chile, or example, algal blooms hampered production and, consequently, exports.
To some extent, Chile s mis ortune is Scotland s gain. Record export figures both in volume and value are in part due to its position as an alternative to Chilean and other armed salmon. However, the success is driven by a combination o actors.
The devaluation o sterling in the wake o the Brexit result has helped the competitiveness o ood exports rom the . Additionally, Sco sh salmon arms managed to overcome environmental challenges themselves in 2016, having seen these limit their exporting ability in 2015.
And, above all, a growing awareness and recognition in both emerging and established markets that Sco sh salmon represents a uni ue, high quality product has helped to push the export figures significantly higher.
The next SFA meeting will take place next year with a new SSP chie executive at the helm. For his part, Landsburgh looks back on an even ul nine years leading the Sco sh organisation.
As an industry, we have aced challenges in many areas and rom many angles. ot a week goes by without an issue that requires in-depth analysis and care ully considered responses.
But we are proud o our success, our notable achievements and what we are able to give back in terms o developing our communities and our economy. This makes the challenges we ace worthwhile.’
“Every country arming Atlantic salmon has a plan to at least double its production but is being back” held