A nearly £1 billion ($1.3 billion) investment in fish health and welfare by Scottish salmon farmers has led to the highest survival rates since 2020, according to new figures published today by Salmon Scotland.
The data reveals a 98.18 percent survival rate on Scottish salmon farms for September, a traditionally challenging month for the industry due to seasonal environmental pressures.
The improved rates come after significant investments in freshwater treatment, research, and advanced monitoring systems.
“Scottish salmon farmers provide the highest standards anywhere in the world for the animals in their care,” stated Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland in a press release on Tuesday. “And while no farmer wants to lose any animal, the care our farmers provide means that survival rates for farm-raised salmon – which spend up to 18 months in the sea – are dramatically higher than their wild cousins.”
The survival rate of wild salmon is estimated between one and two percent due to natural environmental hazards.
The fallen stock rate recorded in September was approximately half of what it was during the same period last year, when warm sea temperatures caused microjellyfish blooms that adversely affected fish health. Scott praised the commitment of the sector: “It is testament to the dedication of farmers that survival rates on Scottish salmon farms are now at the highest level since 2020.”
Since 2018, the farmed salmon sector has committed £975 million to bolster fish welfare and health. Investments include freshwater treatment vessels, shortening the sea phase for farm-raised salmon, and robust staff training. Additionally, Scottish salmon farmers are the only group within the farming sector to voluntarily publish monthly survival rates.
Tomorrow, the Scottish Government is set to publish the 2023 production survey, which is expected to show a decline in production volumes due to last year’s environmental challenges. However, recent data underscores a positive trend, with production in the first half of 2024 increasing by 15 percent year-over-year, rising from 75,000 tonnes to 86,600 tonnes.
Scott concluded, “The nearly £1 billion investment made by Scottish salmon farmers since 2018 is paying dividends, reflected in the highest survival rates we have seen in years, a tribute to the standards and commitment within our sector.”
