Having evolved from a niche interest for local crofters in the 1960s to a major exporting concern in the 2020s, salmon production is one of the cornerstones of local primary manufacturing and a key contributor to the reputation of Shetland – and Scotland – as a source of high quality, responsibly managed seafood, with nearly 40,000 tonnes produced in Shetland in 2022, equal to over 23% of production in Scotland.