Scottish Aquaculture is Thriving
Fish and shellfish farming contribute £620 million to the Scottish economy every year, according to new research. The industry now supports more than 12,000 jobs and Scottish aquaculture production has increased by a third in the ten years to 2015, from 142,000 to 188,000 tonnes, according to a Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) commissioned study.
Atlantic salmon production accounts for 90% of all economic impact, supporting 10,340 full-time equivalent jobs and generating £540 million in gross value added (GVA). The contribution of other fish and shellfish species like trout, mussels and oysters is also considered as part of the study.
Charlotte Wright, chief executive at HIE, comments: “HIE has supported the aquaculture industry since its inception and we are pleased to have led on this research along with Marine Scotland. This vitally important industry, including the supply chain, provides much needed job opportunities across Scotland. The report underlines how important these jobs are for rural communities and it also shows that the benefits are felt right across Scotland.
She adds: “We welcome the report’s findings which both highlight the significant growth opportunities, and confirm the challenges that must be overcome to realise industry ambitions. The research shows that there is capacity for growth in the industry and we look forward to working with them to achieve this.”
Stewart Graham, co-chair of the Aquaculture Industry Leadership Group, says: “We are delighted that this new and updated report confirms that the economic and social impact of aquaculture in Scotland is even greater than previous reports had shown, with 12,000 jobs currently dependent on the sector. The report also confirms that the opportunities which need to be grasped and the challenges which need to be overcome as set out in our 2030 industry strategy have been clearly identified and I am confident that with full stakeholder alignment and collaboration we will deliver on our ambitious growth targets.”
