2. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to boost the Scottish salmon industry. (S6O-02293)

The Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to the sustainable development of our world-leading aquaculture industry, not least because of the significant economic value that the sector brings to more remote rural and island areas through farm businesses, the wider supply chain and all the jobs that the sector supports.

We are working to support business by streamlining the consenting process for fish farms to make it more effective, transparent and efficient. We are also supporting the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre and collaborating with producers and others to support fish health and welfare in Scotland.

It is well known that Scotland’s native wild salmon are in a perilous state, with populations continuing to decline. Predation is a key factor in that decline, with predators such as cormorants and seals impacting on numbers. The effects are intensified by anthropogenic pressures, including barriers and impoundments that alter habitats and disrupt migration.

Through fisheries and wider tourism, the wild salmon industry is a key component of the rural economy, not least in Fife, where a number of key fisheries are located. A recent Scotland-wide economic assessment of the wild fisheries estimated that the industry is responsible for 4,300 jobs and contributes to just short of £80 million in gross value added to the economy. Therefore, any review of fish-eating bird policies clearly needs to strike a balance in terms of conservation.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

Ms McCall, we need a question, please.

I am just coming to it.

What is the Scottish Government doing to ensure that that balance is struck?

Roz McCall raises a vital point. I am glad that she has highlighted wild salmon, which is an iconic species for Scotland, and that she has emphasised just how important it is. I absolutely agree with her that wild salmon is a key component of the rural economy.

We recognise the importance of our wild salmon, and we are also seriously concerned about the declines in numbers that we have seen. That is why we set out our wild salmon strategy and published earlier this year a wild salmon implementation plan that outlines all the key pressures and what action we are taking in that regard. I would be happy to furnish Roz McCall with that information so that she can see what action we are taking against each of the pressures that salmon face, because we want to do all that we can to preserve and boost that iconic species for Scotland.

Our salmon industry is a national asset that provides a nutritious source of home-grown protein as well as employment opportunities in rural communities.

With Europe reportedly continuing to be the top destination for Scottish salmon, does the Cabinet secretary agree that the best way to enhance what our salmon industry has to offer Scotland and the world is to reverse Brexit and remove the bureaucracy and hardships that the Tories have forced on the sector?

Karen Adam will not be surprised to learn that I absolutely agree with her, because her assessment is absolutely right. Brexit has been harmful to our entire seafood sector, including the Scottish salmon industry.

The Scottish Government repeatedly warned the United Kingdom Government that the forced exit from the European Union would be damaging to Scottish businesses, and we still do not yet know the full implications of the trade and co-operation agreement for our aquaculture industry. Last June, I said in the chamber:

“It is hugely disappointing that increased costs are threatening the competitiveness of Scotland’s most valuable food exports.”—[

Official Report

, 29 June 2022; c 29.]

A year on, I simply repeat that remark, and I will continue to make clear that all of our food and drink sector would be better off with independence and with Scotland as a member of the European Union.

Last week, the Scottish salmon industry celebrated growth in exports to Asia. The salmon industry provides jobs to economically vulnerable island and coastal communities, but the sector faces concerns about the impact of Scottish National Party-Green proposals for highly protected marine areas. Will the Scottish Government boost the salmon industry by going back to the drawing board on HPMA plans?

I emphasise that we never left the drawing board in that regard. We consulted on HPMAs at the earliest possible stage in the process.

Beatrice Wishart will no doubt be aware that I visited Shetland a couple of weeks ago. There, I engaged with members of the aquaculture industry in order to hear their concerns directly. We are committed to that engagement and to on-going engagement with communities as well as with impacted industries and sectors. We are continuing to listen to that feedback, and we will analyse the results of the consultation before we set out next steps.