Scottish salmon farms face scrutiny amid high mortality rates

SCOTLAND – The Scottish salmon farming industry is under increasing pressure as a new report from Holyrood’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee outlines sweeping recommendations to address high mortality rates at some of the country’s worst-performing farms. 

While a moratorium (temporary prohibition) on the sector’s expansion has been ruled out, the committee has advised decisive action to improve fish welfare and environmental standards.  

Key proposals include granting the Fish Health Inspectorate authority to limit or halt production at sites with consistently high mortality rates. 

The committee emphasised the need for collaboration between the government, industry, and regulators to establish clear mortality thresholds. 

Despite serious consideration, the committee refrained from advocating for a production moratorium, citing potential economic repercussions for rural communities reliant on the industry.  

The report also calls for enhanced research to predict better and mitigate environmental conditions contributing to fish deaths. 

A targeted research initiative would aim to refine existing models, offering early warnings and informing strategies to prevent mass mortality events. 

Furthermore, it recommends the publication of detailed mortality figures encompassing freshwater and seawater facilities to ensure greater transparency and accountability.  

Environmental and welfare concerns  

Significant attention was directed at the environmental impact of salmon farming, particularly concerning waste discharge and the use of medicinal treatments like emamectin benzoate. 

The committee urged the government to fast-track revisions to environmental quality standards for these treatments and establish dedicated research pens, financed partly by the industry, to address data gaps on marine ecosystem risks.  

The report proposes new regulations under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 to safeguard fish welfare. 

These would establish baseline standards for farmed fish welfare and examine the ethics of using cleaner fish like wrasse and lumpsuckers to manage sea lice infestations.  

The committee underscored the need to protect Scotland’s iconic wild salmon populations. The recommendations include an immediate ban on siting farms near migratory routes, alongside a coordinated approach between regulatory bodies to mitigate farmed salmon’s impact on wild stocks.  

Convener Finlay Carson MSP highlighted the sector’s importance to Scotland’s rural economy but stressed the urgency of implementing overdue reforms.

 “The Scottish Government and industry must accelerate their efforts to address challenges posed by climate change, rising sea temperatures, and evolving public expectations,” Carson said.  

The report concludes with a call for the government to expedite planning reforms and ensure local communities benefit from hosting salmon farms.

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