To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether any further action is required to address reported concerns around the environmental, sustainability and welfare impacts of farmed salmon. (S6O-03782)

We have in place robust legislation, policies and operational practices to ensure that farmers are meeting statutory requirements related to the environment, sustainability and welfare, such as sea lice reporting and management, mortality reporting and listed disease surveillance.

It is important to recognise that Scotland’s salmon industry is a significant contributor to our economy, particularly in rural and island communities. It produces high-quality nutritious products with a lower carbon footprint than many other sources of farmed protein.

It is also important to highlight our document “Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture”, which sets out how we will support the development of our aquaculture industry to operate within environmental limits and deliver social and economic benefits for Scotland.

As the Cabinet secretary is no doubt aware, there have been long-standing concerns about the welfare and environmental impact of farmed salmon. Those have included on-going reports of mass fish deaths on salmon farms, the increasing impact of sea lice on those farms and increased use of chemicals and antibiotics to combat the levels of disease. Is the Scottish Government not concerned that continual reports of disease-ridden farms have potential to ruin the global reputation of Scottish salmon? What more could and should be done about that issue?

I recognise some of the concerns that Mr Rowley raises, and I completely understand wider public concern about fish health and mortality. However, to touch on one example that was used recently, misinformation was reported in relation to what happened in advance of a visit to a fish farm by members of a Parliament committee last week. That misrepresentation of some of the issues shows a lack of understanding of some operations. Notwithstanding that, Mr Rowley raises really important issues.

It is important to mention our work on the back of the Griggs review and its recommendations. Fish health and welfare is of paramount importance, and we continually strive to improve that. That is a key pillar in our “Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture”, which we published last year. We want to see improvements in fish health and welfare. I know that the industry is committed to doing that and to reducing mortalities to the lowest possible levels.

We continue to engage in discussions with industry and our regulators. More widely, I chair the Scottish Aquaculture Council—

Briefly.

—which brings together a range of different bodies to try to address some of those issues.

I have a couple of supplementary questions from members. They will need to be brief, as will the responses.

Will the Cabinet secretary tell members how many jobs the finfish aquaculture industry supports in rural Scotland? Will she also set out some of the detail of the economic importance of the industry nationally and in rural and island communities?

It is important to recognise the significant economic contribution that our fish farming sector makes to our rural economy and Scotland’s economy more widely. The overall figures show that the industry was worth £1.2 billion at farm-gate prices in 2022. It employs more than 12,000 people throughout the supply chain; it also provides well-paid jobs in some of our most rural communities and in our island communities. The industry makes a significant economic contribution.

I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests. I am a proprietor of a wild salmon fishery on the east coast of Scotland, where there are no fish farms.

We heard this morning in committee that mortality in salmon farms has been around 20 to 25 per cent, but it is somewhat better this year because of colder seas. Given that the industry seems to be predicting a 2 per cent drop in mortality, how long should it be before the industry should consider whether expansion is right until it has fish mortality under control?

It is important to remember that a range of different issues contribute to fish mortality. I know that the industry would be committed to driving that to the lowest possible levels, as we are. We expect producers to drive it to the lowest possible levels because it is not in anyone’s interests to see high mortality, whether from a fish health and welfare perspective or from an economic perspective.

I know the challenges that we are seeing. The industry invests quite a lot in research, innovation and development to tackle them. As we recognise in our “Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture”, investment in innovation will be critical to our ability to address the challenges that we see in relation to climate change and other issues.