Urgent call to pause new salmon farms
With one of the largest ever mass salmon escapes in 2025 and reports of the mistreatment of farmed salmon, the Scottish Greens have called on Ministers to protect Scotland’s waters by pausing the licensing of new salmon farms.
Analysis of industry and regulatory data has found that over 250,000 fish died unexpectedly at Shetland’s salmon farms this October, part of the worst farmed salmon mortality figures since the 1980s. On top of that, a Mowi salmon farm in the Highlands saw 75,000 salmon escape after damage caused by Storm Amy.
In January 2025 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.
Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess said:
“2025 has shown exactly why we need to stop licensing new salmon farms or expanding existing farms.
“Industrial salmon farming is damaging our coastal waters and polluting our seas, and the industry has refused to take the action that is needed to change this.
“If salmon farms had stronger regulations, including for animal welfare and higher environmental standards then we could reduce the damage being done. That must include real, consequential penalties for breaches and those who do not comply.
“The status quo is totally unsustainable. It’s bad for animal welfare, bad for our environment , and a growing risk to coastal communities. A pause would allow regulators to ensure existing rules are properly enforced and to address the true costs of salmon farming to our seas and other marine-based jobs.
“The Scottish Greens will continue to call for tighter and enforced legislation that ensures our communities, wild species, marine life and environment is better protected.”