Why we need a pause on new salmon farms
Imagine if we allowed a factory to spill waste into Scotland’s rivers and lochs without taking action. Imagine if it was harming wildlife, damaging the environment, and even putting its own industry at risk. You would expect something to be done?
Well, that’s exactly what’s happening with salmon farming in Scotland right now. And yet, despite mounting evidence of harm, the Scottish Government is allowing the industry to keep expanding.
Scotland’s seas are a vital part of our landscape; supporting wildlife, local businesses, and our way of life. But our coastal waters are being damaged, potentially irreversibly, from the rapid expansion of the salmon farming industry. That’s why I’m calling for an immediate pause on new and expanding salmon farms. We need to take a step back and ensure that this industry is operating in a way that protects our environment, our wild fish, and the long-term sustainability of the sector itself.
Progress from the Salmon Farming Inquiry
One of my roles representing you is as a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands (RAI) Committee. We recently conducted an inquiry into salmon farming (Follow-up inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland). It confirmed what many communities and environmental groups have been saying for years: Scotland’s salmon farming industry is plagued by serious issues. Thanks to pressure from me, the report recognised the urgent need for action, with some important recommendations:
- Protecting Wild Salmon: The Committee backed an immediate ban on siting salmon farms near migratory routes for wild salmon, reducing the threat from sea lice and disease.
- Stronger Monitoring and Regulation: The Committee highlighted serious delays in environmental testing, with seabed samples from farms left unanalysed for years.
- Better Data for the Public: The Committee made recommendations on how the salmon farms report data, such as the number of fish deaths at farms, to make it easier for the public to see the state of the industry.
- Fish Welfare Standards: It was recognised that farmed fish currently have no specific statutory welfare protections, and the Committee urged the Scottish Government to introduce regulations.
While these steps are welcome, I was one of two Committee members who felt these recommendations didn’t go far enough. Given the scale of environmental damage and poor official enforcement, I believe a temporary pause is necessary to fix these issues before more farms are allowed to expand.
What we achieved by having a Scottish Green Party MSP in the room
Scotland’s natural environment and its communities are at the heart of everything I do, both personally and as a member of the Scottish Green Party. Our landscapes, waters, and local economies are deeply interconnected, and I believe we have a responsibility to protect them for future generations.
I spent a lot of time ensuring that the industry's impacts on our environment, marine life, and coastal communities, were properly scrutinised. I pushed for the RAI Committee report to be written in an accessible way, with terms explained and clear graphics used so the report, as far as it could be, is easy to understand. I also ensured that the evidence we wrote in the report was a balanced view of what we heard people say to the committee. I made sure the recommendations were specific in what action to take and one we could measure. I called for stronger action on the welfare of the fish, who can feel pain, as well as the fish that are used to eat the sea lice off the salmon, penalties for escapes of farmed fish and work on analysing potential damage the farms are having on the seabed.
Why a Pause is Necessary
A pause isn’t about shutting down existing farm - it’s about ensuring the industry meets proper standards before growing further. Here’s why it’s essential:
1. Protecting Our Environment
Salmon farms release waste, chemicals, and uneaten food into the sea, damaging marine habitats. Many farms still operate under outdated environmental rules, with tighter regulations only applying to new sites. By pausing expansion, we can give existing farms time to meet higher standards and reduce their impact.
We also need to catch up on monitoring. Out of 210 farms, only 72 have submitted seabed survey results, and many haven’t been assessed. In some areas, it could take up to five years to collect the necessary data. Without knowing the impact on our environment, we can’t risk further expansion.
2. Saving Scotland’s Wild Salmon
Wild salmon are in crisis, and salmon farms are a major threat. Sea lice infestations from farms spread to wild fish, weakening and killing them. The Committee heard evidence calling for immediate protections, including banning farms near migration routes. Yet progress is painfully slow.
A pause would allow time to map out safe zones and ensure that new farms aren’t placed where they will harm wild salmon populations.
3. Applying the Precautionary Principle
Under environmental law, Scotland is supposed to follow the “precautionary principle” which means taking action to prevent harm when there’s uncertainty about risks. Yet despite clear evidence of pollution, disease, and declining wild fish populations, the industry is still being allowed to expand.
The Committee even agreed that existing policies don’t align with this principle. If we are serious about protecting Scotland’s natural environment, we must stop approving new farms until we have stronger safeguards in place.
4. Improving Fish Welfare
Salmon farming has shockingly high mortality rates. In 2018, a Parliamentary report said that farms with high death rates should not be allowed to expand. Yet since then, mortality rates have risen from 7% to 25%—meaning one in four farmed fish don’t survive to harvest. In any other farming sector, this would be a scandal.
A pause would allow time for legally enforceable fish welfare standards to be introduced. Better welfare isn’t just ethical; it leads to healthier fish, better-quality products, and a more resilient industry.
5. Ensuring Long-Term Industry Sustainability
Some argue that stopping expansion could hurt jobs, but the reality is that salmon farming directly employs relatively few people - just 1,480 in 2023, a decline from previous years. Meanwhile, the environmental damage caused by the industry threatens other coastal jobs in tourism, fishing, and recreation.
A poorly regulated industry risks collapsing under its own failures. If Scotland becomes known for unsustainable, high-mortality fish farming, we could face stricter export controls from other countries. A pause would give the industry time to make necessary reforms and ensure its long-term survival.
A Call for Action
Scotland’s seas and rivers are too important to be sacrificed for short-term profits. A temporary pause on new and expanding salmon farms would:
- Protect the environment and allow existing farms to meet higher standards.
- Give wild salmon a fighting chance by stopping farms in sensitive areas.
- Ensure fish welfare laws are in place before further expansion.
- Secure a more sustainable future for the industry and coastal jobs.
The Scottish Government and the industry both claim they are working towards improvements, but progress has been far too slow. Without decisive action, we risk losing our wild salmon, damaging our seas, and undermining Scotland’s global reputation for high-quality, sustainable food.
Now is the time to act. I urge the Scottish Government to implement a temporary pause and take the necessary steps to protect Scotland’s marine environment before it’s too late.
A temporary pause on expansion is the responsible choice. It gives us a chance to get this industry on the right track before more damage is done.
How you can help:
I’m standing up for Scotland’s seas and communities - will you join me?
Write to the Scottish Government to tell them you are calling for a pause on new salmon farms and the expansion of existing ones - Pause Salmon Farming
Join our campaign to save Loch Long from a new salmon farm here: Save Loch Long
Find out more by listening to my podcast on Salmon Farming here: Stream Aquaculture - EP2 - Environmental impacts of Salmon Farming - John Aitchison by Ariane Burgess MSP - Scottish Greens | Listen online for free on SoundCloud