PRODUCTION of Scottish farmed salmon in 2013 was at its highest annual level for a decade, and has now risen for five consecutive years, the latest figures show.
And, while growth in tonnage was modest, the farmgate value of Scottish farmed salmon last year was, at £677 million, up by 26 per cent on 2012.
A survey published yesterday by the Scottish Government shows that production of Atlantic salmon increased by 1,011 tonnes, or 0.6 per cent, to 163,234 tonnes in 2013. The Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey shows this is the highest annual tonnage since 2003. The production tonnage had risen by 2.7 per cent in 2012.
In 2003, production of Scottish farmed salmon totalled 169,736 tonnes, up by 17 per cent on 2002.
Production survey information was collected from all 21 companies actively involved in Atlantic salmon production, farming 257 active sites. This figure represents the entire industry operating in Scotland.
The survey notes that the industry is estimating, based on stocks currently being "on-grown", that production of Scottish farmed salmon will dip slightly to 162,374 tonnes this year.
Scottish Minister for Environment and Climate Change Paul Wheelhouse said: "Scotland is famed for the delicious, high-quality and healthy farmed fish and shellfish we produce in our clear and pristine waters. Our salmon is in demand around the world, and I am pleased with the continued sustainable growth in 2013."
He noted the aquaculture industry employed around 2,000 people directly across Scotland.
Mr Wheelhouse added: "Scotland's aquaculture sector is now estimated to be worth £1.75 billion [annually] to the Scottish economy overall. If sustained, the sector is well on its way to generating over £2bn annually for the Scottish economy and supporting 10,000 jobs by 2020, many of which are in some of Scotland's most remote and rural communities."
The survey shows rainbow trout production decreased by one per cent in 2013 to 5,611 tonnes. This followed a 22.8 per cent increase in 2012.
But production of brown or sea trout increased by two tonnes to 44 tonnes in 2013.
Mr Wheelhouse declared the regulatory framework for the aquaculture industry in Scotland struck the right balance between growth of the sector and protection of the marine environment.
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