Innovation is driving change, says Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon
There have been challenges for Scotland’s aquaculture sector, but there is good reason for optimism.
By Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands
The substantial increase in the export of Scottish salmon in the first six months of 2024 underscores the international reputation of our high-quality salmon grown in Scottish waters. This is something the sector should be proud of.
Fish Farmer readers will not, however, need me to tell them that the last couple of years have been testing for Scottish aquaculture. Our latest finfish production statistics covering 2022-2023 showed an 11% decrease in output. The statistics highlight the issues faced by the sector as our climate and seas change, and bring into sharp focus the impacts those changes have on production. The sector has worked hard to respond to these challenges, investing more than £1bn since 2018 in a range of innovations to improve fish health and welfare, including supporting research, training staff, developing operating practices and deploying new equipment. We are now seeing improvements as a result of that investment, with the industry reporting positive trends in survival rates for 2024 and a downward trend in sea lice numbers on farms at a national level.
I welcomed the opportunity to give evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee in November on the progress made since the 2018 committee report into salmon farming. I was able to outline some of the significant steps forward made, none of which could have been achieved without the participation and collaboration of our many varied stakeholders. This is a reflection of the trust built over the last few years of working cooperatively to achieve our common goal of a successful and more sustainable sector.
I am committed to supporting the sector to provide social and economic benefits for Scotland into the long term while operating within sustainable environmental limits, in line with our Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture, published in 2023. I was pleased the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) launched the new sea lice risk assessment framework in February, and with the continued progress of the Consenting Task Group (CTG) to streamline the consenting process through the pre-application pilots.
Innovation is a driving force behind change for the better. As announced in May, we have provided £1.5m to the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) to fund activity to 2026 while we work with partners to develop our thinking around the future of aquaculture innovation coordination.
We have also consulted on extending the Marine Planning Zones out to 12 nautical miles. This will help to clarify the consenting process for aquaculture developments beyond three nautical miles, as technological innovation opens up the ability to move further offshore. This will support innovation and research for aquaculture to take place in a more dynamic environment, with the potential to bring in more investment and jobs particularly for island and coastal communities.
The Scottish Government continues to promote aquaculture innovation and sustainable practices through Marine Fund Scotland grants, with an aim of supporting our economy and communities, and protecting the environment. In October, Marine Fund Scotland awarded over £4.5m to aquaculture projects, facilitating more than £17m of investment across the sector this year. This includes support for innovation and productive investment in shellfish and seaweed farming businesses.
I am pleased to see success in both these sectors this year. Our shellfish production survey for 2023, published in June, reported the highest level of common mussel production ever recorded in Scotland. We continue to support the Scottish Seaweed Industry Association, co-funding with Crown Estate Scotland a Business Development Manager to support the seaweed sector’s growth ambitions.
Earlier this year I attended Seafood Expo Global in Spain and Aquasur in Chile to strengthen our international relationships. In Chile I took the opportunity to visit Ventisqueros’s aquaculture site which operates 100% on renewable energy. This is just one example of the opportunities available to explore as we work to harness green technology to support Scotland’s net zero ambitions. I am committed to building relationships, learning from and sharing expertise with other salmon producing nations. Work to support the Scottish pavilion at Aqua Nor 2025 is already underway.
Our aquaculture sector is always looking to the future, and I acknowledge and welcome the drive everyone has to make that future sustainable; but we all know there is more to do. I’ve been pleased to see the sector’s commitment to net zero through its sustainability charter and the increasing introduction of new clean technologies, such as hybrid workboats.
The Scottish Government will continue play its part as we work collaboratively to improve fish farm consenting processes, improve fish health, and protect the environment. I look forward to continuing our efforts to ensure the future sustainability and success of Scotland’s aquaculture sector.
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