Scottish Salmon Farming Faces Calls for Stricter Regulations After Record Mortality Rates

A parliamentary inquiry highlights high fish deaths, environmental concerns, and regulatory gaps in Scotland's top food export industry.

A Holyrood inquiry recommends granting regulators the power to shut or limit production at salmon farms with persistently high mortality rates.
Record 17.4 million salmon deaths were reported in 2023, attributed to factors such as micro-jellyfish blooms and parasitic sea lice.
The report urges the Scottish government to establish clear welfare standards, improve transparency, and publish annual health reports for farmed salmon.
Environmental groups criticize the lack of a moratorium on new farms, citing ongoing concerns over fish welfare and pollution.
The salmon farming industry remains vital to Scotland's economy, supporting thousands of jobs and generating £760 million in exports annually.