Salmon Scotland acknowledges Mairi Gougeon’s contribution as she announces departure from Scottish Parliament.
Salmon Scotland has extended its best wishes to Mairi Gougeon, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, following reports that she will step down as an MSP at the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.
The announcement, first reported by The Courier, marks the departure of a minister who has played a key role in Scotland’s agriculture, fisheries, and aquaculture policies.
Gougeon, who was first elected to Holyrood in 2016, has been a prominent advocate for Scotland’s food and drink sector, including the salmon industry, the UK’s largest food export.
In response to the news, Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said:
“Scotland’s salmon sector wishes Mairi Gougeon all our best wishes for her future career. She has been a friend to people across the sector and has always made the positive case for salmon to Scotland.
“We have valued her commitment and professionalism and look forward to continuing to work with her during the remaining months in this parliamentary session.”
Gougeon has served as Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands since 2021, steering policies such as the Good Food Nation Act and the Agriculture and Rural Communities Act through Parliament. Her tenure has included engagement with Scotland’s salmon farming sector, which supports 12,500 jobs and contributes £760 million annually to the economy.
As Scotland’s government prepares for an election year, attention will turn to her successor and the future direction of aquaculture policy under a new ministerial team.
