Protect Scotland’s Waters – Pause New Salmon Farms

Scotland’s coastal waters are at risk. There's mounting evidence of the damage caused by industrial salmon farming, including a quarter of fish dying before they reach your plate, pollution to our seas, and threats to wild salmon.

A parliamentary report found that Scotland's marine ecosystem faces "irrecoverable damage" from an expansion in fish farming, with one in five farms failing to meet statutory environmental standards.

Yet despite this, the Scottish Government continues to allow new farms and expansions.

Why This Matters

Wild salmon are endangered: sea lice from salmon farms weaken and kill wild fish, threatening biodiversity.
Environmental destruction: waste, chemicals, and untreated effluent from farms harm marine ecosystems.
No proper oversight: many farms still operate under outdated environmental standards, with regulators years behind in assessing the damage and imposing no penalties for harm.

We Need a Pause Now

A temporary halt on new and expanding salmon farms will give Scotland time to:

Enforce stronger regulations.
Protect wild salmon by mapping and safeguarding migratory routes.
Ensure existing farms meet higher environmental standards before allowing expansion.

Sign Up Today

Join the call for the Scottish Government to pause new salmon farms and prevent further damage to our marine environment. Together, we can push for responsible aquaculture practices that protect both nature and jobs.

Tell the Scottish Government to Protect Scotland’s Waters

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Postcode *

Campaign

Email Text *

Dear Mairi Gougeon, 
 
Urgent Need for a Pause on New and Expanding Salmon Farms

I am writing to ask you to implement a temporary pause on the development of new salmon farms and the expansion of existing ones. The recent Rural Affairs and Islands Committee inquiry made it clear that the current approach to salmon farming is not viable in the long term. Despite its recommendations, expansion continues, putting our environment, wild salmon populations, and coastal jobs at risk. 
 
Environmental Concerns

Salmon farms release waste, chemicals, and sea lice into the marine environment. Wild salmon populations are being devastated by sea lice spreading from farms along their migratory routes. The Committee recommended ending farm siting near these routes, but without a pause, this continues to be ignored. 
 
Furthermore, many existing farms are still operating under outdated environmental standards. SEPA’s backlog of seabed survey assessments means that some farms are not being properly monitored. Expanding the industry under these conditions risks worsening the environmental damage. A pause would also allow existing farms to be brought into line with the environmental standards of new farms. 
 
Fish Welfare and High Mortality Rates

Salmon farms report alarming mortality rates, with some farms losing up to 25% of their fish, some over 80%. This level of loss would not be accepted in any other farming sector. Yet, new farms are still being approved. The REC Committee’s 2018 recommendation was clear: no expansion should occur at sites with high mortality rates until the issues are addressed. This has not been upheld. 
 
A pause in salmon farm expansion is essential to improve fish welfare. It would allow time to introduce species-specific welfare guidance. The current inconsistent approach, relying on voluntary third-party schemes, has contributed to high mortality rates, driven by disease, sea lice infestations, and poor environmental conditions. A pause would provide the necessary time to ensure robust, legally binding welfare standards tailored to the needs of farmed salmon. Without this, farms will continue to expand under a patchwork of voluntary measures, leaving millions of fish vulnerable to unnecessary suffering. 
 
The Precautionary Principle

Scotland has a duty to apply the precautionary principle when there is evidence of environmental harm. The Committee heard that current practices do not meet this standard. Expanding salmon farming without fully understanding its long-term consequences is reckless. A temporary pause would allow for vital research, improved regulation, and better enforcement of existing standards. 
 
Sustainable Jobs and Coastal Communities

While the salmon farming industry raises concerns about job losses, the reality is that only a small number of new jobs have been created in recent years. According to the Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey, salmon production jobs decreased by 28 in 2023. Meanwhile, environmental damage threatens jobs in tourism, fishing, and recreation. Pausing expansion would allow for reforms that protect both the environment and sustainable employment. 
 
A Reasonable and Responsible Solution

I am not calling for the closure of existing farms but for a temporary halt on new developments. This measured step will allow Scotland to strengthen regulations, protect wild salmon, and prevent further environmental harm. 
 
I urge you to take decisive action to safeguard Scotland’s marine environment by pausing the expansion of salmon farming. 
 
Thank you for consideration of this urgent request. 
 
Yours sincerely,

This message will be sent to CabSecforRALRI@gov.scot marked with your email address

Tags (used for supporter list opt in)

Yes, keep me informed of Scottish Greens campaigns and events via email

We will never share your details with third parties without your consent. You can find out more about how we use your information in our privacy policy.

120
Supporters.

500
Goal

120

Tell the Scottish Government to Protect Scotland’s Waters

People powered politics