The Committee held 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 looked at the report's recommendations and assessed where progress has been made across four themes:
The Committee’s follow-up inquiry ran between 5 June 2024 and 17 January 2025, when it published its report. The Committee took further evidence sessions on 25 February and 11 March 2026 to consider what progress had been made implementing its recommendations.
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.
The inquiry was discussed at the following Committee meetings:
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.
The committee published its report "Follow-up inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland" on 17 January 2025.
The Committee received the following response to its report:
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, 13 March 2025