MSP visits Cooke site in Shetland

Cooke Scotland’s Shetland operations played host to one of the members of a Scottish Parliamentary committee that is taking a close look at the salmon industry.

Emma Roddick MSP (Scottish National Party) represents the Highlands and Islands in the Scottish Parliament, and she is a member of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee (RAIC), which is currently part way through a follow-up inquiry into the Scottish salmon farming sector.

She braved a blustery day in Shetland on 16 August to visit Cooke’s Vatsetter farm, off the isle of Yell.

Emma Roddick said: “Fish farming plays an important role in Shetland’s local economy, particularly around the recruitment and retention of a local workforce. I enjoyed hearing directly from the team in Yell about the work going on to ensure fish health, prevent escapes and adapt to new technologies.

“As I’m taking part in an inquiry which is ongoing into salmon farming, I felt it was important to see things for myself up close, and I enjoyed feeding the fish and learning more about how to spot sickness in salmon. The workers in Yell obviously care about the animals they farm and the quality of the product at the end of the process and I look forward to continuing to learn about the industry as the inquiry seeks to answer questions, which land agriculture also faces, on how to best improve sustainability.”

Around one in five salmon farmed across Scotland is grown in Shetland, making the island an integral part of the sector.

Aquaculture and fishing is Shetland’s biggest contributor to the local economy where Cooke is the major employer in Yell and one of the largest on Scotland’s northern isles. The Scottish salmon sector in Shetland supports more than 400 direct and 1,200 indirect jobs, making up 20% of the economy.

Emma Roddick MSP speaks to Cooke’s David Brown and Yell Processing Factory staff, Shetland

David Brown, Cooke Scotland Shetland Regional Manager, and Tavish Scott, Chief Executive of industry body Salmon Scotland, welcomed the MSP to Cooke’s Yell operations.

Brown said: “It was a pleasure to host Emma and Tavish to allow them to see how we are prioritising animal welfare on our farms to continue responsibly growing sustainable, high-quality salmon to distribute to more than 16 different countries worldwide.

“The visit was also an opportunity to highlight our commitment to providing long-term employment to some of the UK’s most remote communities, and how our local investment helps businesses to thrive and attracts people and their families to live on the islands.”

Tavish Scott commented: “We welcome Scotland’s elected representatives visiting salmon farms, asking any questions they want and recognising the weather our farmers work in everyday to look after the fish in their care. Emma Roddick MSP’s visit on a wet and blustery day in Shetland was fish farming as it so normally is and contrasts with a more sunny picture showing Scottish salmon exports are on track for their best year ever.”