Members of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee (RAIC) visited Scottish Sea Farms’ operations on the west coast as part of their ongoing inquiry into salmon farming.
The fact-finding tour included a stop at the company’s Barcaldine freshwater hatchery near Oban, followed by a visit to its Dunstaffnage marine farm, where MSPs observed fish farming in action.
The delegation, led by committee convener Finlay Carson and deputy convener Beatrice Wishart, comprised six MSPs, including Emma Harper, Rhoda Grant, Emma Roddick, and Arianne Burgess. The visit was co-hosted by Scottish Sea Farms’ Head of Sustainability and Development, Anne Anderson, and Head of Veterinary Services, Ronnie Soutar.
Representatives from Salmon Scotland and other sector stakeholders, due to give evidence on October 2, also participated.
Anderson highlighted the opportunity for MSPs to interact directly with those working within the sector. “The MSPs were able to speak to frontline workers, observe the care that goes into their work, and gain a better understanding of the sector’s role in rural communities,” she said.
The RAIC is currently assessing the implementation of recommendations from the 2018 Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee (RECC) inquiry. It has already heard from NGOs, aquaculture scientists, and marine planning experts. The committee will present its findings following further evidence sessions, including testimony from Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon on October 9.
Soutar expressed hope that the visit would influence the inquiry’s outcomes. “We welcomed the chance for MSPs to form their own opinions based on firsthand experience. Many of the issues raised in 2018 remain, and we are keen to see positive changes, particularly around regulation.”
Prior to visiting Scottish Sea Farms, the MSPs toured the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) and attended a community engagement event in Oban.
Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland said, “Scottish salmon, grown in the most sustainable way, is a highly nutritious, low carbon food that more of us should be eating, an important contributor to Scotland’s economy and a vital part of the country’s coastal communities.
“We are grateful to MSPs from the rural affairs committee for visiting a salmon farming company and providing the opportunity to challenge some of the misconceptions and show the reality of salmon farming.
“We hope this visit will support the work of the committee and we look forward to appearing in front of the committee and answering their questions in a week’s time.”
