Scottish fish farm production survey 2018
This report is based on the returns of an annual survey questionnaire sent to all active authorised fish farming businesses in Scotland.
3. Atlantic Salmon - Production
Production
Production survey information was collected from all 12 companies actively involved in Atlantic salmon production, farming 221 active sites. This figure represents the entire industry operating in Scotland.
Table 24: Annual production of salmon (tonnes) during 1998-2018 and projected production in 2019
Year | Tonnes | Percentage difference | Year | Tonnes | Percentage difference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1998 | 110,897 | 12 | 2009 | 144,247 | 12 |
1999 | 126,686 | 14 | 2010 | 154,164 | 6.9 |
2000 | 128,959 | 2 | 2011 | 158,018 | 2.5 |
2001 | 138,519 | 7 | 2012 | 162,223 | 2.7 |
2002 | 144,589 | 4 | 2013 | 163,234 | 0.6 |
2003 | 169,736 | 17 | 2014 | 179,022 | 9.7 |
2004 | 158,099 | -7 | 2015 | 171,722 | -4.1 |
2005 | 129,588 | -18 | 2016 | 162,817 | -5.2 |
2006 | 131,847 | 2 | 2017 | 189,707 | 16.5 |
2007 | 129,930 | -1.4 | 2018 | 156,025 | -17.8 |
2008 | 128,606 | -1 | 2019 | 190,499* |
*industry estimate of projected tonnage based on stocks currently being on-grown.
The total production of Atlantic salmon during 2018 was 156,025 tonnes, a decrease of 33,682 tonnes (17.8%) on the 2017 total.
Table 25: Number (000’s), production (tonnes) of salmon harvested and mean fish weight (kg) per year class during 2009-2018
Year of smolt input | Year of harvest | Number (000’s) | Production (tonnes) | Mean weight at harvest (kg) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harvest in year 0 (i.e. in year of input) | 2009 | 2009 | 81 | 178 | 2.2 |
2010 | 2010 | 128 | 268 | 2.1 | |
2011 | 2011 | 109 | 307 | 2.8 | |
2012 | 2012 | 127 | 301 | 2.4 | |
2013 | 2013 | 0 | 0 | - | |
2014 | 2014 | 286 | 720 | 2.5 | |
2015 | 2015 | 223 | 626 | 2.8 | |
2016 | 2016 | 114 | 333 | 2.9 | |
2017 | 2017 | 0 | 0 | - | |
2018 | 2018 | 84 | 247 | 2.9 | |
Harvest in year 1 | 2008 | 2009 | 16,338 | 77,621 | 4.7 |
2009 | 2010 | 18,266 | 85,826 | 4.7 | |
2010 | 2011 | 18,694 | 91,105 | 4.9 | |
2011 | 2012 | 21,502 | 97,744 | 4.5 | |
2012 | 2013 | 21,264 | 106,161 | 5.0 | |
2013 | 2014 | 20,316 | 101,997 | 5.0 | |
2014 | 2015 | 24,038 | 114,112 | 4.7 | |
2015 | 2016 | 24,633 | 111,163 | 4.5 | |
2016 | 2017 | 25,596 | 126,445 | 4.9 | |
2017 | 2018 | 21,825 | 110,554 | 5.1 | |
Harvest in year 2 | 2007 | 2009 | 14,132 | 66,448 | 4.7 |
2008 | 2010 | 13,666 | 68,070 | 5.0 | |
2009 | 2011 | 13,772 | 66,606 | 4.8 | |
2010 | 2012 | 13,053 | 64,178 | 4.9 | |
2011 | 2013 | 11,283 | 57,073 | 5.1 | |
2012 | 2014 | 13,712 | 76,305 | 5.6 | |
2013 | 2015 | 10,910 | 56,984 | 5.2 | |
2014 | 2016 | 10,940 | 51,321 | 4.7 | |
2015 | 2017 | 11,094 | 63,262 | 5.7 | |
2016 | 2018 | 7,165 | 45,224 | 6.3 |
Table 26: Number (000’s) and production (tonnes) of grilse and pre-salmon harvested during 2009-2018
Year | Grilse (January-August) | Pre-salmon (September-December) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number | Tonnes | Average weight (kg) | Number | Tonnes | Average weight (kg) |
|
2009 | 5,631 | 23,857 | 4.2 | 10,707 | 53,764 | 5.0 |
2010 | 6,877 | 29,733 | 4.3 | 11,389 | 56,093 | 4.9 |
2011 | 7,604 | 35,146 | 4.6 | 11,090 | 55,959 | 5.0 |
2012 | 11,337 | 53,216 | 4.7 | 10,165 | 44,528 | 4.4 |
2013 | 9,618 | 47,496 | 4.9 | 11,646 | 58,665 | 5.0 |
2014 | 9,048 | 46,686 | 5.2 | 11,268 | 55,311 | 4.9 |
2015 | 11,243 | 53,930 | 4.8 | 12,795 | 60,182 | 4.7 |
2016 | 13,463 | 59,853 | 4.4 | 11,170 | 51,310 | 4.6 |
2017 | 13,523 | 68,116 | 5.0 | 12,073 | 58,329 | 4.8 |
2018 | 10,815 | 53,244 | 4.9 | 11,010 | 57,310 | 5.2 |
Table 27: Percentage (by weight) of annual production by growth stage harvested during 2009-2018
Year | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Growth stage | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Input year fish | <1 | <1 | <1 | <1 | 0 | <1 | <1 | <1 | 0 | <1 |
Grilse | 16 | 19 | 22 | 33 | 29 | 26 | 31 | 37 | 36 | 34 |
Pre-salmon | 37 | 36 | 35 | 27 | 36 | 31 | 35 | 31 | 31 | 36 |
Year 2 salmon | 46 | 44 | 42 | 39 | 35 | 42 | 33 | 31 | 33 | 29 |
Survival and Production in Smolt Year Classes
Table 28: Survival and production in smolt year classes during 1999-2018
Year of smolt input | Smolt input (000’s) | Harvest year 0 | Harvest year 1 | Harvest year 2 | Total % of year class harvested (survival) |
Year class weight (tonnes) | Yield per smolt (kg) | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number (000’s) | Weight (tonnes) | Mean weight (kg) | % harvest |
Number (000’s) | Weight (tonnes) | Mean weight (kg) | % harvest | Number (000’s) | Weight (tonnes) | Mean weight (kg) | % harvest | |||||
1999 | 41,106 | 1,000 | 2,763 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 23,077 | 89,963 | 3.9 | 56.1 | 9,096 | 40,754 | 4.5 | 22.1 | 80.6 | 133,480 | 3.25 |
2000 | 45,185 | 765 | 2,673 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 22,726 | 96,539 | 4.2 | 50.3 | 11,354 | 53,535 | 4.7 | 25.1 | 77.1 | 152,747 | 3.38 |
2001 | 48,643 | 557 | 1,227 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 23,528 | 90,230 | 3.8 | 48.4 | 15,619 | 73,255 | 4.7 | 32.1 | 81.6 | 164,712 | 3.39 |
2002 | 50,086 | 272 | 824 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 22,602 | 96,205 | 4.3 | 45.1 | 15,555 | 71,988 | 4.6 | 31.1 | 76.7 | 169,017 | 3.37 |
2003 | 43,083 | 82 | 276 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 19,596 | 85,792 | 4.4 | 45.5 | 13,920 | 61,850 | 4.4 | 32.3 | 78.0 | 147,918 | 3.43 |
2004 | 39,041 | 168 | 319 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 15,075 | 67,738 | 4.5 | 38.6 | 14,237 | 67,537 | 4.7 | 36.5 | 75.5 | 135,594 | 3.47 |
2005 | 37,168 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 14,036 | 64,099 | 4.6 | 37.8 | 14,999 | 69,000 | 4.6 | 40.3 | 78.1 | 133,099 | 3.58 |
2006 | 41,091 | 115 | 211 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 13,787 | 60,890 | 4.4 | 33.5 | 15,881 | 73,631 | 4.6 | 38.6 | 72.5 | 134,732 | 3.28 |
2007 | 37,853 | 23 | 40 | 1.7 | 0.06 | 13,011 | 54,759 | 4.2 | 34.4 | 14,133 | 66,448 | 4.7 | 37.3 | 71.8 | 121,247 | 3.20 |
2008 | 36,662 | 116 | 216 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 16,338 | 77,621 | 4.7 | 44.6 | 13,666 | 68,070 | 5.0 | 37.3 | 82.2 | 145,907 | 3.98 |
2009 | 38,548 | 81 | 178 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 18,266 | 85,826 | 4.7 | 47.4 | 13,772 | 66,606 | 4.8 | 35.7 | 83.3 | 152,610 | 3.96 |
2010 | 38,490 | 128 | 268 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 18,694 | 91,105 | 4.9 | 48.6 | 13,053 | 64,178 | 4.9 | 33.9 | 82.8 | 155,551 | 4.04 |
2011 | 42,733 | 109 | 307 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 21,502 | 97,744 | 4.5 | 50.3 | 11,283 | 57,073 | 5.1 | 26.4 | 77.0 | 155,124 | 3.63 |
2012 | 41,094 | 127 | 301 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 21,264 | 106,161 | 5.0 | 51.7 | 13,712 | 76,305 | 5.6 | 33.4 | 85.4 | 182,767 | 4.45 |
2013 | 40,936 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 20,316 | 101,997 | 5.0 | 49.6 | 10,910 | 56,984 | 5.2 | 26.7 | 76.3 | 158,981 | 3.88 |
2014 | 48,112 | 286 | 720 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 24,038 | 114,112 | 4.7 | 50.0 | 10,940 | 51,321 | 4.7 | 22.7 | 73.3 | 166,153 | 3.45 |
2015 | 45,465 | 223 | 626 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 24,633 | 111,163 | 4.5 | 54.2 | 11,094 | 63,262 | 5.7 | 24.4 | 79.1 | 175,051 | 3.85 |
2016 | 42,957 | 114 | 333 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 25,596 | 126,445 | 4.9 | 59.6 | 7,165 | 45,224 | 6.3 | 16.7 | 76.6 | 172,002 | 4.00 |
2017 | 46,116 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 21,825 | 110,554 | 5.1 | 47.3 | |||||||
2018 | 45,375 | 84 | 247 | 2.9 | 0.2 |
In 2016, the last year for which survival can be calculated, the survival rate from smolt input to harvest decreased to 76.6%. Of the 2017 year class, 47.3% of the input has been harvested, 12.6% lower than the average harvest of fish one year after input in the 2016 year class. In 2018, there was 0.2% fish harvested from the 2018 input. This was an increase compared with the proportion of fish harvested from the same year class in 2017.
Smolts to Sea
Table 29: Number (000’s) and origin of smolts put to sea during 2009-2018
Year | Smolts put to sea (000’s) | Total (000’s) |
Scottish Origin % |
English Origin | Other Origin | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
S½ | S1 | S1½ | (000’s) | % | (000’s) | % | |||
2009 | 14,967 | 23,581 | 0 | 38,548 | 95 | 1,700 | 4 | 105 | <1 |
2010 | 14,069 | 24,421 | 0 | 38,490 | 95 | 1,541 | 4 | 120 | <1 |
2011 | 17,721 | 25,012 | 0 | 42,733 | 96 | 1,765 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
2012 | 17,334 | 23,480 | 280 | 41,094 | 96 | 1,510 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
2013 | 19,262 | 21,534 | 140 | 40,936 | 97 | 1,169 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
2014 | 23,758 | 24,212 | 142 | 48,112 | 94 | 893 | 2 | 2,072 | 4 |
2015 | 22,886 | 22,569 | 10 | 45,465 | 96 | 938 | 2 | 1,082 | 2 |
2016 | 22,052 | 20,905 | 0 | 42,957 | 97 | 1,048 | 2 | 611 | 1 |
2017 | 25,490 | 20,626 | 0 | 46,116 | 97 | 976 | 2 | 300 | <1 |
2018 | 21,629 | 23,746 | 0 | 45,375 | 96 | 1,318 | 3 | 364 | 1 |
The total number of smolts put to sea in 2018 was 45.4 million. This smolt input comprised S1s (52.3%) and S½s (47.7%). There were no S1½s put to sea in 2018 and no S2s have been put to sea since 2001. Four percent of the smolts stocked to Scottish salmon farms were sourced from outwith Scotland, 1% of which came from sources outwith GB. This was an increase of just over 1% compared with the proportion observed in 2017.
Survival and Production in Smolt Year Classes by Production Area
Table 30: Number (000’s) of smolts put to sea and year class survival by area during 2007-2018
Region | Smolts put to sea (000’s) | Harvest in year 0 | Harvest in year 1 | Harvest in year 2 | Total Harvest | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | No | Year | No | % | Year | No | % | Year | No | % | No | % | |
North West | 2007 | 9,563 | 2007 | 23 | 0.2 | 2008 | 5,394 | 56.4 | 2009 | 1,850 | 19.3 | 7,267 | 75.9 |
2008 | 9,099 | 2008 | 116 | 1.3 | 2009 | 4,897 | 53.8 | 2010 | 2,687 | 29.5 | 7,700 | 84.6 | |
2009 | 9,986 | 2009 | 42 | 0.4 | 2010 | 7,045 | 70.5 | 2011 | 2,003 | 20.1 | 9,090 | 91.0 | |
2010 | 9,924 | 2010 | 117 | 1.2 | 2011 | 6,324 | 63.7 | 2012 | 2,802 | 28.2 | 9,243 | 93.1 | |
2011 | 12,605 | 2011 | 53 | 0.4 | 2012 | 7,937 | 63.0 | 2013 | 1,744 | 13.8 | 9,734 | 77.2 | |
2012 | 11,588 | 2012 | 127 | 1.1 | 2013 | 7,179 | 62.0 | 2014 | 2,623 | 22.6 | 9,929 | 85.7 | |
2013 | 10,975 | 2013 | 0 | 0 | 2014 | 6,549 | 59.7 | 2015 | 1,695 | 15.4 | 8,244 | 75.1 | |
2014 | 17,543 | 2014 | 191 | 1.1 | 2015 | 9,649 | 55.0 | 2016 | 3,768 | 21.5 | 13,608 | 77.6 | |
2015 | 8,646 | 2015 | 223 | 2.6 | 2016 | 6,122 | 70.8 | 2017 | 1,695 | 19.6 | 8,040 | 93.0 | |
2016 | 14,534 | 2016 | 114 | 0.8 | 2017 | 9,711 | 66.8 | 2018 | 1,882 | 12.9 | 11,707 | 80.5 | |
2017 | 9,527 | 2017 | 0 | 0 | 2018 | 3,809 | 40.0 | ||||||
2018 | 15,177 | 2018 | 84 | 0.6 | |||||||||
Orkney | 2007 | 1,408 | 2007 | 0 | 0 | 2008 | 594 | 42.2 | 2009 | 741 | 52.6 | 1,335 | 94.8 |
2008 | 1,912 | 2008 | 0 | 0 | 2009 | 507 | 26.5 | 2010 | 1,120 | 58.6 | 1,627 | 85.1 | |
2009 | 1,154 | 2009 | 0 | 0 | 2010 | 741 | 64.2 | 2011 | 95 | 8.2 | 836 | 72.4 | |
2010 | 2,557 | 2010 | 0 | 0 | 2011 | 1,126 | 44.0 | 2012 | 936 | 36.6 | 2,062 | 80.6 | |
2011 | 2,718 | 2011 | 0 | 0 | 2012 | 1,203 | 44.3 | 2013 | 765 | 28.1 | 1,968 | 72.4 | |
2012 | 2,727 | 2012 | 0 | 0 | 2013 | 1,422 | 52.1 | 2014 | 1,167 | 42.8 | 2,589 | 94.9 | |
2013 | 2,104 | 2013 | 0 | 0 | 2014 | 1,023 | 48.6 | 2015 | 512 | 24.3 | 1,535 | 72.9 | |
2014 | 2,829 | 2014 | 0 | 0 | 2015 | 1,412 | 49.9 | 2016 | 1,244 | 44.0 | 2,656 | 93.9 | |
2015 | 3,266 | 2015 | 0 | 0 | 2016 | 1,580 | 48.4 | 2017 | 1,521 | 46.6 | 3,101 | 95.0 | |
2016 | 3,050 | 2016 | 0 | 0 | 2017 | 1,184 | 38.8 | 2018 | 1,571 | 51.5 | 2,755 | 90.3 | |
2017 | 3,524 | 2017 | 0 | 0 | 2018 | 1,699 | 48.2 | ||||||
2018 | 3,478 | 2018 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
Shetland | 2007 | 14,947 | 2007 | 0 | 0 | 2008 | 4,610 | 30.8 | 2009 | 4,930 | 33.0 | 9,540 | 63.8 |
2008 | 13,929 | 2008 | 0 | 0 | 2009 | 4,992 | 35.8 | 2010 | 4,659 | 33.4 | 9,651 | 69.2 | |
2009 | 10,031 | 2009 | 29 | 0.3 | 2010 | 4,201 | 41.9 | 2011 | 3,234 | 32.2 | 7,464 | 74.4 | |
2010 | 11,573 | 2010 | 0 | 0 | 2011 | 4,134 | 35.7 | 2012 | 4,292 | 37.1 | 8,426 | 72.8 | |
2011 | 11,206 | 2011 | 49 | 0.4 | 2012 | 4,911 | 43.8 | 2013 | 2,709 | 24.2 | 7,669 | 68.4 | |
2012 | 11,389 | 2012 | 0 | 0 | 2013 | 4,995 | 43.9 | 2014 | 4,022 | 35.3 | 9,017 | 79.2 | |
2013 | 9,956 | 2013 | 0 | 0 | 2014 | 4,289 | 43.1 | 2015 | 3,034 | 30.5 | 7,323 | 73.6 | |
2014 | 11,309 | 2014 | 0 | 0 | 2015 | 5,042 | 44.6 | 2016 | 2,663 | 23.5 | 7,705 | 68.1 | |
2015 | 9,040 | 2015 | 0 | 0 | 2016 | 5,322 | 58.9 | 2017 | 1,592 | 17.6 | 6,914 | 76.5 | |
2016 | 10,640 | 2016 | 0 | 0 | 2017 | 6,012 | 56.5 | 2018 | 1,723 | 16.2 | 7,735 | 72.7 | |
2017 | 8,539 | 2017 | 0 | 0 | 2018 | 4,579 | 53.6 | ||||||
2018 | 11,312 | 2018 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
South West | 2007 | 6,135 | 2007 | 0 | 0 | 2008 | 980 | 16.0 | 2009 | 3,289 | 53.6 | 4,269 | 69.6 |
2008 | 6,507 | 2008 | 0 | 0 | 2009 | 4,153 | 63.8 | 2010 | 2,969 | 45.6 | 7,122 | 109.4* | |
2009 | 8,200 | 2009 | 10 | 0.1 | 2010 | 2,700 | 32.9 | 2011 | 4,697 | 57.3 | 7,407 | 90.3 | |
2010 | 6,565 | 2010 | 12 | 0.2 | 2011 | 3,000 | 45.7 | 2012 | 2,648 | 40.3 | 5,660 | 86.2 | |
2011 | 7,493 | 2011 | 0 | 0 | 2012 | 2,673 | 35.7 | 2013 | 3,706 | 49.4 | 6,379 | 85.1 | |
2012 | 7,363 | 2012 | 0 | 0 | 2013 | 2,841 | 38.6 | 2014 | 3,863 | 52.5 | 6,704 | 91.1 | |
2013 | 7,801 | 2013 | 0 | 0 | 2014 | 3,202 | 41.0 | 2015 | 3,564 | 45.7 | 6,766 | 86.7 | |
2014 | 6,981 | 2014 | 95 | 1.4 | 2015 | 3,771 | 54.0 | 2016 | 2,023 | 29.0 | 5,889 | 84.4 | |
2015 | 11,156 | 2015 | 0 | 0 | 2016 | 4,944 | 44.3 | 2017 | 3,643 | 32.7 | 8,587 | 77.0 | |
2016 | 8,093 | 2016 | 0 | 0 | 2017 | 4,643 | 57.4 | 2018 | 1,622 | 20.0 | 6,265 | 77.4 | |
2017 | 11,106 | 2017 | 0 | 0 | 2018 | 5,330 | 48.0 | ||||||
2018 | 7,177 | 2018 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
Western Isles | 2007 | 5,800 | 2007 | 0 | 0 | 2008 | 1,433 | 24.7 | 2009 | 3,320 | 57.2 | 4,753 | 81.9 |
2008 | 5,214 | 2008 | 0 | 0 | 2009 | 1,789 | 34.3 | 2010 | 2,231 | 42.8 | 4,020 | 77.1 | |
2009 | 9,177 | 2009 | 0 | 0 | 2010 | 3,579 | 39.0 | 2011 | 3,743 | 40.8 | 7,322 | 79.8 | |
2010 | 7,870 | 2010 | 0 | 0 | 2011 | 4,110 | 52.2 | 2012 | 2,375 | 30.2 | 6,485 | 82.4 | |
2011 | 8,711 | 2011 | 7 | 0.1 | 2012 | 4,778 | 54.9 | 2013 | 2,358 | 27.1 | 7,143 | 82.0 | |
2012 | 8,027 | 2012 | 0 | 0 | 2013 | 4,827 | 60.1 | 2014 | 2,037 | 25.4 | 6,864 | 85.5 | |
2013 | 10,100 | 2013 | 0 | 0 | 2014 | 5,254 | 52.0 | 2015 | 2,105 | 20.8 | 7,359 | 72.8 | |
2014 | 9,451 | 2014 | 0 | 0 | 2015 | 4,164 | 44.1 | 2016 | 1,242 | 13.1 | 5,406 | 57.2 | |
2015 | 13,357 | 2015 | 0 | 0 | 2016 | 6,665 | 49.9 | 2017 | 2,643 | 19.8 | 9,308 | 69.7 | |
2016 | 6,640 | 2016 | 0 | 0 | 2017 | 4,046 | 60.9 | 2018 | 367 | 5.5 | 4,413 | 66.4 | |
2017 | 13,420 | 2017 | 0 | 0 | 2018 | 6,408 | 47.7 | ||||||
2018 | 8,231 | 2018 | 0 | 0 |
* The survival of the 2008 smolt input in the South West is over 100% due to the practice of putting smolts to sea in one region and subsequently moving them to another sea water site in another region for harvest.
Figure 3: The distribution of active Atlantic salmon production sites in 2018
Staffing
Table 31: Number of staff employed in the production of salmon during 2009-2018
Year | Full-time Male | Full-time Female | Total Full-time | Part-time Male | Part-time Female | Total Part-time | Total Staff | Productivity (tonnes/person) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | 806 | 68 | 874 | 61 | 28 | 89 | 963 | 149.8 |
2010 | 854 | 90 | 944 | 86 | 34 | 120 | 1,064 | 144.9 |
2011 | 847 | 76 | 923 | 62 | 28 | 90 | 1,013 | 156.0 |
2012 | 870 | 74 | 944 | 80 | 35 | 115 | 1,059 | 153.2 |
2013 | 997 | 84 | 1,081 | 74 | 25 | 99 | 1,180 | 138.3 |
2014 | 1,082 | 109 | 1,191 | 98 | 36 | 134 | 1,325 | 135.1 |
2015 | 1,125 | 131 | 1,256 | 70 | 37 | 107 | 1,363 | 126.0 |
2016 | 1,182 | 197 | 1,379 | 67 | 40 | 107 | 1,486 | 109.6 |
2017 | 1,175 | 145 | 1,320 | 59 | 10 | 69 | 1,389 | 136.6 |
2018 | 1,273 | 142 | 1,415 | 35 | 16 | 51 | 1,466 | 106.4 |
In 2018, the total number of staff employed in salmon production was 1,466, an increase of 77 compared with 2017. The staffing figures collected refer specifically to the production of Atlantic salmon and do not include figures for staff involved with processing or marketing activities. Productivity decreased from 136.6 to 106.4 tonnes produced per person.
Production Methods
Table 32: Production methods, capacity, tonnage and average stocking densities (kg/m3) during 2016-2018
Method | Number of sites | Total capacity (000’s cubic metres) |
Production (tonnes) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | |
Seawater tanks | 5 | 4 | 4 | 7.4 | 5.7 | 7.1 | 21 | 26 | 35 |
Seawater cages | 248 | 222 | 217 | 20,067 | 19,108 | 19,922 | 162,796 | 189,681 | 155,990 |
For cage sites: ratio of production (kg) to cage capacity (m3) | 8.1 | 9.9 | 7.8 |
In 2018, the majority of fish were produced in seawater cages. There were 35 tonnes of production from seawater tank sites in 2018. This reflects the high installation and running costs incurred in operating seawater tank systems. Most seawater tank capacity has been re-deployed for the production of other species of marine finfish or salmon broodstock.
Sea cage capacity increased by 814,000 m3 during 2018 and the number of sea cage sites in production decreased by five. Production efficiency in sea cages, measured as the ratio of fish weight in kilograms produced per cubic metre, decreased from 9.9kg/m3 in 2017 to 7.8 kg/m3 in 2018.
Scale of Production by Site
Table 33: Number of sites shown in relation to their production grouping and percentage share of production 2009-2018
Production grouping (tonnes) | 0 | 1-50 | 51-100 | 101-200 | 201-500 | 501-1,000 | >1,000 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sites* | Tonnes | ||||||||
2009 | 104 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 33 | 25 | 58 | 254 | 144,247 |
2010 | 109 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 33 | 22 | 64 | 249 | 154,164 |
2011 | 106 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 28 | 29 | 66 | 254 | 158,018 |
2012 | 115 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 25 | 33 | 67 | 257 | 162,223 |
2013 | 112 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 18 | 36 | 67 | 257 | 163,234 |
2014 | 117 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 26 | 29 | 70 | 260 | 179,022 |
2015 | 115 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 26 | 26 | 75 | 254 | 171,722 |
2016 | 117 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 22 | 26 | 73 | 253 | 162,817 |
2017 | 93 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 13 | 33 | 77 | 226 | 189,707 |
2018 | 100 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 26 | 64 | 221 | 156,025 |
2009 | 0 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 7.7 | 13.0 | 77.5 | - | - |
2010 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 7.3 | 10.8 | 80.6 | - | - |
2011 | 0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 6.4 | 13.4 | 78.9 | - | - |
2012 | 0 | <0.1 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 5.0 | 15.0 | 78.8 | - | - |
2013 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 4.0 | 16.7 | 78.0 | - | - |
2014 | 0 | 0.1 | <0.1 | 0.8 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 82.0 | - | - |
2015 | 0 | <0.1 | <0.1 | 0.9 | 5.0 | 11.6 | 82.4 | - | - |
2016 | 0 | <0.1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 4.6 | 11.7 | 82.8 | - | - |
2017 | 0 | <0.1 | 0 | 0.6 | 3.2 | 13.9 | 82.3 | - | - |
2018 | 0 | <0.1 | <0.1 | 0.6 | 3.7 | 13.5 | 82.0 | - | - |
* Includes farms stocked but having no production.
In 2018, the number of sites with no production increased by seven and the number producing 1 to 500 tonnes increased by eight. The number of sites producing over 500 tonnes decreased by 20 but there continues to be a trend towards production in larger sites, with 82.0% of production being derived from sites producing over 1000 tonnes.
Company Productivity
Table 34: Number of companies grouped by production (tonnes), staff and productivity (tonnes per person) during 2017-2018
Total Tonnage | 0-100 | 101-200 | 201-400 | 401-700 | 701-1,000 | 1,001-2,000 | >2,000 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. of companies | 2017 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 12 |
2018 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 12 | |
No. of tonnes | 2017 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,864 | 187,817 | 189,707 |
2018 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 866 | 0 | 155,124 | 156,025 | |
Staff (total) |
2017 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 1,348 | 1,389 |
2018 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 1,424 | 1,466 | |
Productivity (tonnes/person) |
2017 | 3 | - | - | - | - | 60 | 139 | 137 |
2018 | 5 | - | - | - | 25 | - | 109 | 106 |
The greatest productivity of 109 tonnes per person was achieved in the companies producing over 2000 tonnes. The least productivity of 5 tonnes per person was from the companies producing between 0-100 tonnes. In comparison with 2017, the average company productivity decreased from 137 to 106 tonnes per person. Overall, production was dominated by six companies in 2018 which between them accounted for 99% of Scotland’s farmed Atlantic salmon production.
Staff and Production by Production Area
Table 35: Staff and production (tonnes) by area 2009-2018 and projected production in 2019
Region | Year | Staff | Annual Production | Productivity (t/person) |
Year of input | Grilse | Pre-salmon | Salmon | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F/T | P/T | Tonnes | Mean weight (kg) | Tonnes | Mean weight (kg) | Tonnes | Mean weight (kg) | Tonnes | Mean weight (kg) | ||||
North West | 2009 | 256 | 32 | 35,295 | 122 | 75 | 1.8 | 9,777 | 4.7 | 15,860 | 5.6 | 9,583 | 5.2 |
2010 | 294 | 44 | 47,353 | 140 | 239 | 2.0 | 15,895 | 4.4 | 17,837 | 5.1 | 13,382 | 5.0 | |
2011 | 303 | 38 | 41,656 | 122 | 174 | 3.2 | 13,152 | 4.3 | 16,879 | 5.1 | 11,451 | 5.7 | |
2012 | 300 | 40 | 50,987 | 150 | 301 | 2.4 | 31,121 | 4.7 | 5,842 | 4.7 | 13,723 | 4.9 | |
2013 | 350 | 48 | 43,320 | 109 | 0 | - | 17,937 | 4.9 | 16,417 | 4.7 | 8,966 | 5.1 | |
2014 | 348 | 46 | 50,873 | 129 | 511 | 2.7 | 26,440 | 5.3 | 8,731 | 5.5 | 15,191 | 5.8 | |
2015 | 382 | 66 | 54,741 | 122 | 626 | 2.8 | 18,046 | 4.8 | 26,897 | 4.6 | 9,172 | 5.4 | |
2016 | 538 | 30 | 46,917 | 83 | 333 | 2.9 | 21,576 | 4.7 | 7,515 | 5.0 | 17,493 | 4.6 | |
2017 | 437 | 11 | 55,690 | 124 | 0 | - | 32,113 | 5.1 | 14,920 | 4.4 | 8,657 | 5.1 | |
2018 | 453 | 17 | 30,948 | 66 | 247 | 2.9 | 11,899 | 4.9 | 7,780 | 5.6 | 11,022 | 5.9 | |
2019 | 62,820* | ||||||||||||
Orkney | 2009 | 47 | 2 | 6,220 | 127 | 0 | - | 754 | 4.6 | 1,793 | 5.2 | 3,673 | 4.9 |
2010 | 58 | 2 | 9,388 | 156 | 0 | - | 1,221 | 4.1 | 2,279 | 5.1 | 5,888 | 5.3 | |
2011 | 69 | 0 | 6,369 | 92 | 0 | - | 3,508 | 5.1 | 2,355 | 5.4 | 506 | 5.3 | |
2012 | 65 | 6 | 11,694 | 165 | 0 | - | 3,532 | 5.3 | 2,720 | 5.1 | 5,442 | 5.8 | |
2013 | 86 | 3 | 11,479 | 129 | 0 | - | 3,191 | 5.1 | 4,491 | 5.7 | 3,797 | 5.0 | |
2014 | 90 | 6 | 13,029 | 136 | 0 | - | 980 | 5.5 | 5,045 | 6.0 | 7,004 | 6.0 | |
2015 | 93 | 1 | 11,074 | 118 | 0 | - | 1,386 | 5.0 | 6,129 | 5.4 | 3,559 | 6.9 | |
2016 | 102 | 8 | 14,752 | 134 | 0 | - | 3,491 | 4.6 | 4,668 | 5.7 | 6,593 | 5.3 | |
2017 | 108 | 9 | 16,756 | 143 | 0 | - | 3,215 | 5.3 | 3,823 | 6.6 | 9,718 | 6.4 | |
2018 | 93 | 0 | 20,956 | 225 | 0 | - | 2,808 | 5.2 | 6,906 | 6.0 | 11,242 | 7.2 | |
2019 | 14,661* | ||||||||||||
Shetland | 2009 | 188 | 22 | 43,785 | 208 | 65 | 2.3 | 4,873 | 3.3 | 16,183 | 4.6 | 22,664 | 4.6 |
2010 | 178 | 23 | 45,439 | 226 | 0 | - | 3,624 | 4.9 | 17,179 | 5.0 | 24,636 | 5.3 | |
2011 | 189 | 22 | 35,493 | 168 | 118 | 2.4 | 4,611 | 4.7 | 16,071 | 5.1 | 14,693 | 4.5 | |
2012 | 188 | 16 | 43,010 | 211 | 0 | - | 6,083 | 4.3 | 15,784 | 4.5 | 21,143 | 4.9 | |
2013 | 210 | 14 | 36,694 | 164 | 0 | - | 5,822 | 4.5 | 18,121 | 4.9 | 12,751 | 4.7 | |
2014 | 224 | 24 | 46,369 | 187 | 0 | - | 6,196 | 5.7 | 17,604 | 5.5 | 22,569 | 5.6 | |
2015 | 228 | 19 | 42,786 | 173 | 0 | - | 11,134 | 5.4 | 14,939 | 5.0 | 16,713 | 5.5 | |
2016 | 200 | 23 | 37,464 | 168 | 0 | - | 11,844 | 4.4 | 12,906 | 4.9 | 12,714 | 4.8 | |
2017 | 207 | 12 | 38,908 | 178 | 0 | - | 14,132 | 4.6 | 15,284 | 5.2 | 9,492 | 6.0 | |
2018 | 206 | 3 | 35,947 | 172 | 0 | - | 12,741 | 5.4 | 12,835 | 5.8 | 10,371 | 6.0 | |
2019 | 40,460* | ||||||||||||
South West | 2009 | 199 | 23 | 35,726 | 161 | 38 | 3.5 | 4,615 | 4.6 | 15,988 | 5.1 | 15,085 | 4.6 |
2010 | 231 | 39 | 27,751 | 103 | 29 | 2.5 | 6,032 | 4.2 | 7,118 | 5.7 | 14,572 | 4.9 | |
2011 | 212 | 17 | 37,157 | 162 | 0 | - | 3,618 | 4.8 | 10,899 | 4.8 | 22,640 | 4.8 | |
2012 | 221 | 24 | 26,850 | 110 | 0 | - | 9,315 | 5.4 | 4,508 | 4.8 | 13,027 | 4.9 | |
2013 | 251 | 19 | 34,924 | 129 | 0 | - | 5,847 | 4.8 | 9,111 | 5.6 | 19,966 | 5.4 | |
2014 | 279 | 29 | 34,976 | 114 | 209 | 2.2 | 4,278 | 5.1 | 10,476 | 4.4 | 20,013 | 5.2 | |
2015 | 302 | 12 | 35,911 | 114 | 0 | - | 10,356 | 4.7 | 6,686 | 4.3 | 18,869 | 5.3 | |
2016 | 305 | 26 | 31,022 | 94 | 0 | - | 12,349 | 4.3 | 9,246 | 4.4 | 9,427 | 4.7 | |
2017 | 316 | 18 | 44,575 | 133 | 0 | - | 11,206 | 5.7 | 12,903 | 4.8 | 20,466 | 5.6 | |
2018 | 375 | 14 | 37,506 | 96 | 0 | - | 9,690 | 5.1 | 17,246 | 5.0 | 10,570 | 6.5 | |
2019 | 38,760* | ||||||||||||
Western Isles | 2009 | 184 | 10 | 23,221 | 120 | 0 | - | 3,838 | 4.1 | 3,940 | 4.6 | 15,443 | 4.6 |
2010 | 183 | 12 | 24,233 | 124 | 0 | - | 2,961 | 3.7 | 11,680 | 4.2 | 9,592 | 4.3 | |
2011 | 150 | 13 | 37,343 | 229 | 15 | 2.1 | 10,257 | 4.7 | 9,755 | 5.0 | 17,316 | 4.6 | |
2012 | 170 | 29 | 29,682 | 149 | 0 | - | 3,165 | 3.7 | 15,674 | 4.0 | 10,843 | 4.6 | |
2013 | 184 | 15 | 36,817 | 185 | 0 | - | 14,699 | 5.2 | 10,525 | 5.2 | 11,593 | 4.9 | |
2014 | 250 | 29 | 33,775 | 121 | 0 | - | 8,792 | 4.5 | 13,455 | 4.1 | 11,528 | 5.7 | |
2015 | 251 | 9 | 27,210 | 105 | 0 | - | 13,008 | 4.4 | 5,531 | 4.5 | 8,671 | 4.1 | |
2016 | 234 | 20 | 32,662 | 129 | 0 | - | 10,593 | 4.2 | 16,975 | 4.1 | 5,094 | 4.1 | |
2017 | 252 | 19 | 33,778 | 125 | 0 | - | 7,450 | 4.7 | 11,399 | 4.6 | 14,929 | 5.6 | |
2018 | 288 | 17 | 30,668 | 101 | 0 | - | 16,106 | 4.5 | 12,543 | 4.4 | 2,019 | 5.5 | |
2019 | 33,798* | ||||||||||||
Scotland Total | 2009 | 874 | 89 | 144,247 | 150 | 178 | 2.2 | 23,857 | 4.2 | 53,764 | 5.0 | 66,448 | 4.7 |
2010 | 944 | 120 | 154,164 | 145 | 268 | 2.1 | 29,733 | 4.3 | 56,093 | 4.9 | 68,070 | 5.0 | |
2011 | 923 | 90 | 158,018 | 156 | 307 | 2.8 | 35,146 | 4.6 | 55,959 | 5.0 | 66,606 | 4.8 | |
2012 | 944 | 115 | 162,223 | 153 | 301 | 2.4 | 53,216 | 4.7 | 44,528 | 4.4 | 64,178 | 4.9 | |
2013 | 1,081 | 99 | 163,234 | 138 | 0 | - | 47,496 | 4.9 | 58,665 | 5.0 | 57,073 | 5.1 | |
2014 | 1,191 | 134 | 179,022 | 135 | 720 | 2.5 | 46,686 | 5.2 | 55,311 | 4.9 | 76,305 | 5.6 | |
2015 | 1,256 | 107 | 171,722 | 126 | 626 | 2.8 | 53,930 | 4.8 | 60,182 | 4.7 | 56,984 | 5.2 | |
2016 | 1,379 | 107 | 162,817 | 110 | 333 | 2.9 | 59,853 | 4.4 | 51,310 | 4.6 | 51,321 | 4.7 | |
2017 | 1,320 | 69 | 189,707 | 137 | 0 | - | 68,116 | 5.0 | 58,329 | 4.8 | 63,262 | 5.7 | |
2018 | 1,415 | 51 | 156,025 | 106 | 247 | 2.9 | 53,244 | 4.9 | 57,310 | 5.2 | 45,224 | 6.3 | |
2019 | 190,499* |
*Estimated production for 2019.
Company and Site Data
Table 36: Number of companies and sites engaged in the production of Atlantic salmon during 2009-2018
Year | Number of companies | Number of sites | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Producing | Non-producing | Total | Producing | Non- producing | Total | |
2009 | 25 | 6 | 31 | 150 | 104 | 254 |
2010 | 20 | 10 | 30 | 140 | 109 | 249 |
2011 | 21 | 6 | 27 | 148 | 106 | 254 |
2012 | 16 | 6 | 22 | 142 | 115 | 257 |
2013 | 15 | 6 | 21 | 145 | 112 | 257 |
2014 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 143 | 117 | 260 |
2015 | 10 | 6 | 16 | 139 | 115 | 254 |
2016 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 136 | 117 | 253 |
2017 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 133 | 93 | 226 |
2018 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 121 | 100 | 221 |
The number of companies authorised and actively producing Atlantic salmon in 2018 was eight, the same as in 2017. Four companies remained active and authorised, although not producing salmon for harvest in 2018. This continued the trend of Atlantic salmon production becoming concentrated within fewer companies. These 12 companies had 221 registered active sites, although not all these sites produced fish for harvest in 2018.
Fallowing
Table 37: Number of seawater cage sites employing a fallow period during 2009-2018
Year | Fallow Period (weeks) | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | <4 | 4-8 | 9-26 | 27-51 | 52 | ||
2009 | 51 | 3 | 30 | 86 | 46 | 37 | 253 |
2010 | 53 | 8 | 26 | 83 | 41 | 36 | 247 |
2011 | 60 | 10 | 31 | 85 | 27 | 39 | 252 |
2012 | 58 | 4 | 31 | 97 | 28 | 37 | 255 |
2013 | 51 | 4 | 31 | 92 | 35 | 43 | 253 |
2014 | 48 | 4 | 36 | 89 | 29 | 51 | 257 |
2015 | 45 | 6 | 41 | 84 | 27 | 47 | 250 |
2016 | 47 | 5 | 27 | 88 | 32 | 49 | 248 |
2017 | 40 | 9 | 21 | 88 | 24 | 40 | 222 |
2018 | 46 | 5 | 32 | 76 | 26 | 32 | 217 |
Of the 217 seawater cage sites recorded as being active in 2018, 32 sites were fallow for the entire year whilst 139 sites were fallow for a variable period. There were 46 sites that did not fallow in 2018. The normal production cycle in seawater varies in length between 12 months and two years. A fallow period at the end of production can break the cycle of disease or parasitic infections.
Broodstock Sites
Table 38: Number of sites holding Atlantic salmon broodstock during 2009-2018
Year | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broodstock sites | 11 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
In 2018, the number of freshwater and seawater sites holding broodstock remained the same with four sites. The number of sites holding broodstock in any one year can be variable, as can be seen from the previous years' figures, which indicate no obvious trend. A total of 2,114 fish were stripped, yielding 15.2 million ova, giving an average yield of 7,190 ova per fish.
Organic Production
Table 39: Organic production of Atlantic salmon during 2010-2018
Year | Number of active cage sites |
Number of cage sites certified as organic | Production (tonnes) |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | 247 | 14 | 6,122 |
2011 | 252 | 10 | 3,104 |
2012 | 255 | 7 | 4,597 |
2013 | 253 | 8 | 5,207 |
2014 | 257 | 8 | 3,588 |
2015 | 250 | 5 | 2,382 |
2016 | 248 | 5 | 3,903 |
2017 | 222 | 5 | 4,644 |
2018 | 217 | 5 | 4,219 |
Of the 217 active Atlantic salmon seawater cage sites in 2018, five were certified as organic, producing 4,219 tonnes.
Escapes
There were five incidents involving the loss of 47,726 fish from seawater Atlantic salmon sites in 2018. There were eight additional incidents reported where the companies confirmed there was no loss of fish.
Contact
Email: Lorna.Munro@gov.scot
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