Booming industry warns of dangers of independence and a hard Brexit

SALMON has established firmly its place as Scotland’s most lucrative food export with record overseas sales of £450 million last year following a 15 per cent rise.

But industry leaders are warning that it faces an uncertain future due to the ongoing political turmoil in the UK and across Europe.

New figures show the US remains the biggest overseas customer with sales worth £155m, but exports to France have also risen with the market now worth £140m.

The French market is vital to Scottish salmon producers and it became the first non-French food to be given the Label Rouge accreditation 25 years ago.

But industry leaders are warning the sector would be at serious risk in an independent Scotland if a “hard border” was created with England.

The Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation (SSPO) said the lucrative UK market, which is the biggest single market and worth