Sales of farmed salmon increased by 0.5% to £581 million in the calendar year – equivalent to £1.6 million every day last year.

The industry is the UK’s top food export and is produced in Orkney, Shetland and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

The UK economy might have descended into recession having stagnated for two years but this is not the case for the successful salmon industry.

France once again led the global demand, however the US and Asian markets saw sharp growth, with the popularity of premium high-quality Scottish salmon increasing among chefs, restaurants, and consumers.

Scottish salmon exports were far higher than the UK’s second largest food export, Cheddar cheese, as well as other popular British products like lamb and beef.  Salmon is also by far the most popular fish among UK shoppers, with sales running at around £1.25 billion a year.

The industry faces serious challenges. The value of salmon had increased, due to the high demand, but export volumes fell by 11% compared to 2022.

The industry has stated that the increased red tape following Brexit continues to add costs and delays for Scottish salmon farmers, while the UK’s recession has dampened the economic environment.

They have also blamed the slow pace of reform of ‘ cumbersome regulation’ in Scotland.

With a General Election looming and in their sights, the body which represents the industry, Salmon Scotland has urged all political parties to do more to support the sector, especially as other countries as looking to increase their share in this market

Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said:

“The demand for nutritious, low carbon Scottish salmon continues to grow at home and abroad. It’s testament to the hard work of salmon farmers in rural Scotland that our fish has been named the UK’s biggest export in 2023 in such challenging economic circumstances.

“The Scottish salmon sector is a bright spot in the Scottish and UK economies, and is ready to invest and create jobs. This is all the more important given the UK is now officially in recession and there is no growth in Scotland, so we need more government support to ensure that Scotland is open for business.

“Other nations are desperate to emulate our success, and it is vital that our sector – which employs 12,500 people and sustains our remotest communities – is supported so that we can deliver sustainable growth for decades to come.”