The Scottish Government also came in for criticism for not providing stronger leadership in ensuring the previous recommendations were being met.

Convener of the Rural Affairs & Islands Committee, Finlay Carson MSP said: 

“We recognise the importance of the salmon farming industry to the Scottish economy and the jobs it supports in many rural and island communities.  

“We also realise the efforts made by the industry to invest and innovate to overcome the new and unpredictable challenges it faces.  

“But further progress should have been made in implementing the REC Committee’s recommendations of 2018 as well as anticipating the impact of climate change and rising sea temperatures on the industry. This would have helped address some of the polarised views the industry is currently facing in relation to the production process. 

“Ultimately, it is the Scottish Government’s role, as well as the industry’s, to drive the change agenda required to allow science, research and the regulatory landscape to keep pace with the rapidly changing marine environment.  

“That is why we are calling for the Scottish Government to redouble its focus on regulatory issues to ensure that this industry, which is so important to the Scottish economy, is both future-proofed and enabled to grow sustainably.” 

The committee took a step back from calling for a moratorium, or pause, on new sites, or the expansion at existing sites.  Two of the MSPs, Emma Roddick (SNP) and Ariane Burgess (Scottish Greens) disagreed with that decision.

The Orkney News has been following the investigation publishing several reports from those giving evidence including Orkney Trout Fishing Association.

Environment v Economy: Scottish Farmed Salmon

The committee report stated that current levels of fish mortality, 17.4million in 2023, “would not be considered acceptable in other livestock sectors”. Scottish Government figures show that, since the REC Committee report was published in 2018 , the average rate of mortality as a percentage of salmon smolts harvested has remained at around 25%.

The MSPs had concerns over fish welfare and some of the methods used by the industry to treat fish “including the use of mechanical techniques such as Thermolicer and Hydrolicer, as well as chemical and medicinal treatments that can stress the fish” The committee have recommended that the Scottish Government should “bring forward additional regulations and official guidance under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 Act in order to set specific baseline standards for the welfare of farmed fish.”

The Committee will be checking up on the issues raised in their report and the progress being made after a year. This may result in further recommendations being made.

Scottish Farmed Salmon is the UK’s top food export and represents 11% of Scotland’s total exports, with sales from Orkney alone up 19% year-on-year, rising from £65 million to £77million.

In November 2018, the Rural Economy & Connectivity Committee (RECC) said that urgent action needed to be taken to improve the regulation of the Scottish salmon farming industry and to address fish health and environmental challenges.  It set out a range of recommendations about how challenges, such as the control of sea lice, rising fish mortalities and the need to reduce the sector’s impact on the environment, should be addressed. 

The report published on 17 January 2025 recommended that the Scottish Government:

• publish an annual fish health report detailing the health and welfare status of all farmed finfish in Scotland
• work with industry and academia to establish dedicated research pens
• bring forward additional regulations and official guidance under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 to set specific baseline standards for the welfare of farmed fish
• update the Committee in relation to the ethics and welfare implications of the use of ‘cleaner fish’ to manage sea lice infestations
• introduce stricter conditions for ‘no counts’ (when salmon farms don’t return a weekly sea lice count to the Fish Health Inspectorate) for the accepted reasons of stock that is subject to treatments or being held for harvest
• prioritise upgrading and improving the Scotland’s Aquaculture website to make data more accessible and user friendly
• publish a timetable for implementing the outstanding 42 recommendations of the Salmon Interactions Working Group report as a matter of urgency. 
• an immediate end to the siting of farms in the close vicinity of known migratory routes for wild salmon
• address concerns about the slow progress in tackling issues with planning and consenting process, especially regarding relocating existing farms
• ensure that communities share the benefits of salmon farms sited in their locality, through consultation with stakeholders and affected communities. 

Emma Roddick MSP and Ariane Burgess MSP did not agree with the committee backing down on a moratorium on new sites. This is the paragraph they recorded their dissent with:

Para 312

The REC Committee considered there was “insufficient evidence” to support a moratorium on new sites or the expansion at existing sites. This Committee is aware that calls for a moratorium remain, especially given the view held by some regarding the lack of progress in addressing high mortality rates since 2018. This Committee has seriously considered whether calling for a moratorium, or pause, on new sites or the expansion at existing sites would be appropriate. On the one hand, a call for a moratorium would send a clear signal to the Scottish Government and industry that further urgent progress is required. On the other hand, the impact of a moratorium – especially on those directly employed on farms or living in local communities – is unclear. Industry also agrees that progress is required and has made improvements and innovations, and it is the Scottish Government’s role, as well as the industry’s, to drive the change agenda. On this basis, the Committee does not currently support a moratorium or pause on production. Follow-up inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland

The Orkney News will follow up this story with reaction from the Farmed Salmon Industry and others.

Fiona Grahame