The organization expands to welcome partner members from supply chain.
A new poll has revealed that a majority of Scots who live near salmon farms support the sector. Residents said that salmon farms provide jobs for local people, help to improve the local economy, and provide a high-quality product that Scotland can be proud of. The work was commissioned by Salmon Scotland and carried out by independent pollsters Ipsos Scotland, members of the British Polling Council.
The research revealed that 54% of those with at least some knowledge of the sector were “favourable” towards it – well over twice the number who were unfavourable (23%). In all five areas where salmon farms are based, favourability was higher than opposition.
Carried out at the beginning of February, the research sought the views of adults in Argyll and Bute, north-west Highlands, Orkney, Shetland, and the Western Isles. Four in five (83 per cent) said they knew at least a little about the sector, including 42 per cent who said they knew a great deal or a fair amount.
In the other hand, the survey also found that 53% supported salmon farms being located in their local area, and just 17 per cent opposed this.
Concerns about the possible hold back to the economic potential of the local sector
It is worth highlighting, that the sector has also adopted a sustainability charter to ensure that Scottish salmon is world-leading in the provision of healthy and nutritious food, produced in the most responsible and sustainable way. salmon farms support around 10,000 jobs in Scotland, and overseas sales of salmon exceeded £600 million last year, reaffirming its place as the UK’s largest food export.
But there are concerns that the growth of salmon farming in Iceland and Scandinavia could squeeze the Scottish sector and hold back the economic potential for rural communities.
“Recently, Professor Russel Griggs published a report for the Scottish Government recommending a change in the regulatory structure which would enable the sector to grow and better invest in the communities in which they are based.“
In that sense, Tavish Scott, Chief Executive of Salmon Scotland, said, that “this poll shows that most people living near salmon farms in rural Scotland are supportive of salmon farming and appreciate the jobs this provides.
“The sector supports around 10,000 jobs across Scotland and provides a highly nutritious food both at home and around the world, produced to the highest environmental and sustainability standards.
“We conducted this independent research among our neighbours as it’s important that we listen to local communities, and this confirms that local people are supportive of salmon farming.
“Salmon farmers work hard to earn and keep the trust of the local communities they live and work in.
“I’m confident that the farm-raised salmon sector will continue to grow responsibly and sustainably in the regions we operate in in Scotland, providing vital jobs for the local economy.”
The organization expands to welcome partner members from supply chain
Salmon Scotland has announced an expansion of its membership to include partners from its supply chain in recognition of the significant and sustainable contribution to the nation’s economy.
New members include feed suppliers, service vessel designers, and textile firms which help ensure that the farm-raised salmon sector delivers responsible growth and creates thousands of well-paid local jobs.
Many of the new members are at the forefront of technological advances which are helping to secure the sector’s low-carbon future, with a commitment to achieving key targets in fish health and welfare, community support, and maintaining the highest food quality standards.
“While salmon are only raised in five key geographical locations in rural Scotland – Shetland, Orkney, the north-west Highlands, the Western Isles and Argyll and Bute – the expansion means that Salmon Scotland will now represent organisations working in every part of Scotland.“
The sector directly employs 2,500 people in Scotland and supports more than 3,600 suppliers, with 10,000 jobs dependent on farm-raised salmon.
The move is the next step in Salmon Scotland’s evolution, after the body changed its name from the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organization in 2021, to reflect its responsibility to champion the interests of people and businesses across the sector.
The Chief Executive of Salmon Scotland said: “Our role is to speak for and champion the interests of people and businesses across Scotland’s farm-raised salmon sector. At the heart of our sector are farmers who care for their fish and produce a healthy, nutritious product that is increasingly popular around the world.”
For Scott, the responsible growth of Salmon Scotland would not be possible without the dedication and hard work of thousands of people in the wider supply chain. “Together, we deliver more than 10,000 jobs in every part of Scotland and generate millions for the local economy, with everyone in the sector working hard to deliver a sustainable and low-carbon future for Scottish salmon,” he said.
