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Chamber and committees

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Salmon farming in Scotland

The Committee is holding a follow-up inquiry into the implementation of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee’s session 5 report recommendations for salmon farming in Scotland.

The report considered the state of the salmon industry in Scotland, identified opportunities for its future development and explored how fish health and environmental challenges could be addressed.

This inquiry will look at the report's recommendations and assess where progress has been made across four themes:

  • environmental impacts and regulatory reform
  • animal welfare
  • interactions with wild salmon
  • economic and social benefit

Previous committee work on salmon farming

In August 2021, Professor Russel Griggs was tasked by the Scottish Government to deliver a first phase of a review into the regulation of aquaculture. Professor Griggs reported his findings and recommendations in February 2022 and these were then accepted in principle by the Scottish Government. Professor Griggs gave evidence to the Committee on 22 June 2022. 

Appointment and terms of reference for the Review of the Aquaculture Regulatory Process in Scotland

Read Professor Griggs’s report

Official Report for the Committee’s meeting on 22 June 2022

The Committee held an evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands on 10 May 2023 which focused on the Scottish Government’s progress in responding to the recommendations in the RECC report and the Griggs review.

Official Report for the Committee’s meeting on 10 May 2023

Timetable

18 September 2024

Evidence from stakeholders with expertise in consenting and marine spatial planning

2 October 2024

Evidence from salmon farming industry representatives

TBC

Evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands

Meetings

The inquiry was discussed at the following Committee meetings:

Engagement

22 to 23 September 2024

The Committee took part in a fact finding visit to Oban during which it hosted a community engagement event with local stakeholders, visited a research facility and toured a local salmon farm.

Correspondence

The Committee has sent and received the following correspondence during the inquiry:

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from Animal Equality, 30 September 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland: Committee visit to Dunstaffnage fish farm

Letter from the Fish Health Inspectorate, 27 September 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Follow-up submission from Fisheries Management Scotland, 27 September 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), 26 September 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Submission from Lesley Spenceley, 4 September 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from Dr Martin Jaffa, Callander McDowell, 14 August 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, 9 August 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from Salmon Scotland, 28 June 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland: Amendment to the evidence Fisheries Management Scotland gave on Wednesday 26 June

Letter from Fisheries Management Scotland, 27 June 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from Salmon Scotland, 27 June 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland: regarding the social and economic benefits of salmon farming in Shetland

Letter from the Shetland Islands Council, 24 June 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland: Amendment to the evidence Coastal Communities Network gave on Wednesday 5 June regarding acoustic startle devices or acoustic deterrent devices (ADD’s).

Letter from NatureScot, 21 June 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from Corin Smith, 14 June 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from Salmon Scotland, 13 June 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from the Animal Law Foundation, 6 June 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from Scottish Environment Protection Agency, 6 June 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland: Follow up information from the evidence session on 5 June relating to the relationship between the RSPCA and RSPCA Assured

Letter from the RSPCA, 5 June 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from Matthew Carse and Johanna Lindsay-MacDougall, 5 June 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from John Boyle, 5 June 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from OneKind, 14 August 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from Salmon Scotland, 4 June 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from Gerry Farrell, 3 June 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from John Gray, 3 June 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from Tim Bowie and family, 3 June 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from Cooke Scotland, 30 May 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter to Rhoda Grant, MSP for the Highlands and Islands, from Migdale Smolt and Migdale Transport, 30 May 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from Inverlussa Marine Services, 30 May 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from Atlantic Salmon Trust, 29 May 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from Gael Force Group, 29 May 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter from Landcatch Natural Selection Ltd, 27 May 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter to the Convener of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, Edward Mountain, 22 May 2024

Salmon farming in Scotland

Letter to Atlantic Salmon Trust, 3 May 2024

Salmon Farming in Scotland

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, 3 May 2023

Salmon Farming in Scotland

Letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, 19 April 2023

Salmon Farming

Letter from the Convener, to Edward Mountain MSP, 4 October 2022

Salmon Farming

Letter from Edward Mountain MSP to the Convener, 6 September 2022