‘No new regulation needed on salmon mortalities’ says Scottish Marine Directorate report

No new regulation is needed on salmon mortalities, a report from Scotland’s Marine Directorate has found.

The government organisation said persistent high levels of fish deaths in marine salmon farms was “not a widespread issue”, with industry “already taking prompt steps to reduce mortality to the lowest possible levels”.

Despite continued concern over the industry’s mortality rates, the committee found that there had been “significant improvements” made to Scottish salmon farming in the past year. 

“Scottish salmon is a high-quality, home-grown nutritious product, which is internationally renowned and commands a premium price in the market in recognition of its quality,” cabinet secretary for rural affairs Mairi Gougeon said in a statement. “That’s why it is in everyone’s best interests to manage mortality in salmon farms down to the lowest possible levels.”

The cabinet secretary continued: “We will now look at building on these foundations to continue to improve fish health and welfare and ensure the continued sustainable development of the Scottish salmon sector.”

However, this response has been described as “simply not acceptable” in the face of a “deeply disturbing death rate” by Abigail Penny, executive director of Animal Equality UK, who pointed to industry data that showed there were 12 million fish deaths in salmon facilities in Scotland last year.

“Evidently, the industry cannot manage its way out of this ever-escalating crisis, and the government cannot keep looking the other way,” Penny said. “The public is waking up to the realities of salmon farming and opposition is growing by the day.”

She added: “[The committee] have an opportunity to do the right thing - for local communities, for the environment, for wild salmon, and for the millions of animals confined in cruel underwater cages – and finally respond with the urgency this dire situation demands.”

Read more: 

• Atlantic salmon production up but job numbers down: report

• Scotland’s largest ever salmon farm secures permission

A survey of 2,005 Scottish adults aged 16 and over by Survation on behalf of WildFish revealed one-third of Scottish adults would like to see the government halt salmon farm expansion, with fewer than one in 10 believing that salmon farming should continue as it is.

The charity’s Scotland director, Nick Underdown, said the Marine Directorate’s report was “completely at odds with the continued high mortality rate” and alleged the salmon industry was frustrating further legislation with legal action.

“Political action is long overdue, and we urge MSPs to protect the heritage of Scottish wildlife by finally implementing a moratorium on new salmon farms and start planning to phase out salmon farming like other countries are doing,” he added. “We present a symbol of Scotland’s wild salmon to the first minister and ask him to heed these concerns and put the brakes on, before it is too late.”

Salmon Scotland praised the Marine Directorates report in a LinkedIn post, saying the sector was “very proud of our processes, standards and results for fish health and welfare”.

“Scottish salmon is one of the most highly regulated food sectors in the world, and survival rates remain high following more than £1bn of investment in fish health and welfare in recent years,” a spokesperson for the organisation told The Grocer. “The focus now should be on better, modern regulation that supports continuous improvement and sustainable growth.

“That means a clearer, more streamlined consenting and planning system that allows farmers to keep improving standards while supporting jobs in coastal and rural communities.”