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Published: June 9, 2011
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40 Years of Scottish Farmed Salmon
As the salmon sector celebrates the 40th anniversary of the first commercial farms in Scotland, the industry’s representative body has expressed a desire to grow by four per cent per annum over the next ten years.
The ambition to achieve an annual production of 210,000 tonnes by 2020 is highlighted in the newly-published Annual Report from Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation (SSPO).
"The first commercial harvest of Scottish salmon was 14 tonnes back in 1971. Now, farmers grow 144,000 tonnes and it has become Scotland’s single largest food export." according to Professor Phil Thomas, Chairman of SSPO.
Highlighting an increasing participation (65 per cent and rising) in Freedom Food, the leading animal welfare scheme from the RSPCA, an all-time low in the number of fish lost to escape incidents, novel research into the use of wrasse to mitigate the effects of sea lice and the launch of a revised Code of Good Practice during 2010 in the Annual Report, Landsburgh said:
"The industry is confident and prepared to meet the challenges ahead. It is committed to adopting the best in advanced science and technology to maintain its position as a leading Scottish food sector."
Scottish Farmed Salmon Facts:
The first commercial Scottish farmed salmon were harvested in Loch Ailort, near Fort William in 1971.
Market conditions are favourable for growth. Experts forecast there was a global undersupply of 190,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon in 2010 – which is one and a half times the size of the total Scottish production – and demand for the health enhancing product continues to grow.
90% of salmon companies feel ‘very confident’ or ‘confident’ about future demand for health-enhancing salmon; 70% of companies expressed a desire to grow sustainably over the next five years, and; 78% of companies plan to increase staff over the next five years. (Source: Salmon Business Confidence Survey, SSPO, December 2010)
Fresh Scottish salmon exports reached record levels in 2010. Exports increased by 20%, rising to 78,611 tonnes from 65,480 tonnes the previous year. This is the second consecutive year that exports have risen as global demand for the healthy and sustainable protein continues to grow.
Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation represents 95% of salmon production.
Scotland’s salmon farmers injected in excess of £500 million into the economy in 2009.
SSPO members have invested over £113.5 million in capital projects over the last four years.
The Highlands and Islands continue to be the most significant beneficiaries.
1 million fresh salmon meals are eaten in the UK every day.
Salmon is the largest food export from Scotland.
In 1980 only 9% of fish consumed by people came from aquaculture, now it is approaching 50%.
The UN FAO reports that aquaculture is the only way to meet the surging demand for seafood.
For further information, visit www.scottishsalmon.co.uk
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Published: June 9, 2011
Print
Email40 Years of Scottish Farmed Salmon
As the salmon sector celebrates the 40th anniversary of the first commercial farms in Scotland, the industry’s representative body has expressed a desire to grow by four per cent per annum over the next ten years.
The ambition to achieve an annual production of 210,000 tonnes by 2020 is highlighted in the newly-published Annual Report from Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation (SSPO).
"The first commercial harvest of Scottish salmon was 14 tonnes back in 1971. Now, farmers grow 144,000 tonnes and it has become Scotland’s single largest food export." according to Professor Phil Thomas, Chairman of SSPO.
Highlighting an increasing participation (65 per cent and rising) in Freedom Food, the leading animal welfare scheme from the RSPCA, an all-time low in the number of fish lost to escape incidents, novel research into the use of wrasse to mitigate the effects of sea lice and the launch of a revised Code of Good Practice during 2010 in the Annual Report, Landsburgh said:
"The industry is confident and prepared to meet the challenges ahead. It is committed to adopting the best in advanced science and technology to maintain its position as a leading Scottish food sector."
Scottish Farmed Salmon Facts:
The first commercial Scottish farmed salmon were harvested in Loch Ailort, near Fort William in 1971.
Market conditions are favourable for growth. Experts forecast there was a global undersupply of 190,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon in 2010 – which is one and a half times the size of the total Scottish production – and demand for the health enhancing product continues to grow.
90% of salmon companies feel ‘very confident’ or ‘confident’ about future demand for health-enhancing salmon; 70% of companies expressed a desire to grow sustainably over the next five years, and; 78% of companies plan to increase staff over the next five years. (Source: Salmon Business Confidence Survey, SSPO, December 2010)
Fresh Scottish salmon exports reached record levels in 2010. Exports increased by 20%, rising to 78,611 tonnes from 65,480 tonnes the previous year. This is the second consecutive year that exports have risen as global demand for the healthy and sustainable protein continues to grow.
Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation represents 95% of salmon production.
Scotland’s salmon farmers injected in excess of £500 million into the economy in 2009.
SSPO members have invested over £113.5 million in capital projects over the last four years.
The Highlands and Islands continue to be the most significant beneficiaries.
1 million fresh salmon meals are eaten in the UK every day.
Salmon is the largest food export from Scotland.
In 1980 only 9% of fish consumed by people came from aquaculture, now it is approaching 50%.
The UN FAO reports that aquaculture is the only way to meet the surging demand for seafood.
For further information, visit www.scottishsalmon.co.uk
Submit Article