Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2023

6. Summary

Rainbow trout

The production of rainbow trout increased by 6% in 2023 to 9,258 tonnes and was directed at the table (95%) and restocking (5%) markets. This is the highest level of rainbow trout production recorded in Scotland. The total numbers of staff employed by the sector decreased by two to 136. There was an overall increase in the productivity of the sector to 68.1 tonnes per person.

In 2023, the number of eyed ova laid down to hatch was 4.2 million and was mainly triploid stock (95%). The proportion of ova from GB broodstock increased to 46%. The USA was the largest source of imported ova with 77% of the total, this was a decrease proportionally from 2022. In addition to GB produced ova, the sector has a reliance on imported ova. Additionally, imports of part grown rainbow trout from Northern Ireland continued in 2023.

Atlantic salmon

In 2023, the total production of Atlantic salmon decreased by 18,245 tonnes to 150,949 tonnes, an 11% decrease on the 2022 production total. The survey showed an increase in the production of year 2 salmon but a decrease in the production of year 0 salmon, grilse and pre-salmon during 2023. The number of staff directly employed on the farms decreased by 28. Overall, there was an decrease in the productivity of tonnes produced per person from 112.2 to 102.0. The estimated harvest forecast for 2023 is 185,207 tonnes. The trend towards concentrating production in larger sites was maintained with 82% of production being concentrated in the sites producing over 1,000 tonnes per annum.

During 2023, there was an increase in the number of ova produced to 56.0 million. The number of ova laid down to hatch decreased by 5% to 74.7 million. 2023 saw 51% of ova being imported with the remaining 49% being derived from GB broodstock (an increase of 11% on the 2022 figure). Smolt production decreased to 51.5 million, with 52% being produced as S½ smolts and 48% as S1 smolts. The number of staff directly employed on freshwater sites increased by 10 in 2023 to 305 staff while productivity decreased to 168,900 smolts per person. Projections for 2024 suggest that less smolts will be produced than was seen in 2023, followed by an increase in 2025.

Other Species

Production of brown/sea trout decreased to 16 tonnes in 2023. Halibut production occurred in 2023 but the figure cannot be shown without revealing the production of individual companies. Lumpsucker and wrasse continued to be produced for use as biological controls for parasites in the marine Atlantic salmon farming sector. Cleaner fish production figures were for adult fish and did not include production figures for larval stage cleaner fish which may have been traded for on-growing at facilities outside of Scotland. In 2023, the total number of staff employed in the production of other species decreased by five to 37.