Publication - Strategy/plan

Vision for sustainable aquaculture

Published: 21 July 2023
From: Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, +3 more … Chief Veterinary Officer, Director of Environment and Forestry, Director of Marine
Directorate: Marine Directorate, +1 more … Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic: Business, industry and innovation, Communities and third sector, Economy, +5 more … Environment and climate change, Farming and rural, Marine and fisheries, Programme for Government, Work and skills
ISBN: 9781835211489

The Vision for sustainable aquaculture describes the Scottish Government’s long-term aspirations to 2045 for the finfish, shellfish and seaweed farming sectors, and the wider aquaculture supply chain.

Supporting documents

2 Scotland’s Aquaculture

The Scottish aquaculture sector and its supply chain is estimated to have supported 11,700 jobs in the Scottish economy and generated £885 million Gross Value Added in 2018.

The aquaculture sector spent an estimated £1.4 billion on supplies and capital investments in 2018, with 76% of purchases from within Scotland.
Scottish aquaculture was estimated to contribute £94.1 million in taxes to the Scottish and UK Governments in 2018.
In 2021 the salmon farming sector harvested 205,393 tonnes of salmon.
In 2021 the rainbow trout farming sector harvested 7,655 tonnes of trout for human consumption and produced 501 tonnes for restocking angling waters.
In 2021 the brown trout farming sector produced a combined 23 tonnes of trout for restocking angling waters and human consumption.
In 2022 the mussel farming sector harvested 9,092 tonnes of mussels for human consumption and produced 2,506 tonnes of mussels for on-growing.
In 2022 the Pacific oyster farming sector harvested 4,087,000 oysters for human consumption and produced 3,400,000 oysters for on-growing.
The native oyster farming sector harvested 109,000 oysters for human consumption and produced 8,000 oysters for on-growing in 2022.
The scallop farming sector harvested 39,600 scallops for human consumption in 2022.
351 active finfish farms in 2021.
167 producing shellfish farms in 2022.
21 active marine licences for seaweed farm development currently in place.