GLOBAL exports of Scottish salmon have leapt by 13%, with growth in the biggest market, the US, up by £5 million alone in one year.
Figures show the country's largest food export was worth £150m in the first five months of the year, compared to £132m for the same period in 2012.
The US alone has bought £74m, up from £69m in 2012.
Environment and Climate Change Minister Paul Wheelhouse, who is visiting Norway this week to discuss the acquaculture industry, said: "Scottish salmon is highly valued and recognised in countries across the globe for its quality and provenance.
"These latest statistics show it remains very much at the forefront of Scotland's food and drink export success; a truly distinctive Scottish brand recognised as such the world over."
Mr Wheelhouse will meet the Norwegian fisheries minister, industry experts and key players in the aquaculture industry in Trondheim at one of the largest sector trade shows to discuss best practice and insights in meeting the growing demand for salmon from around the world.
In Scotland, a £16m hatchery development at Lochailort in the Highlands was recently opened. Scottish Ministers have made record levels of investment with a £205 million five-year commitment.
Scottish Sea Farms recently announced a £2m plans for a new site at Loch Kishorn, a sea-loch in the north-west Highlands, plus an extra £5m working capital investment every two years.
Scott Landsburgh, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation said: "The growing global demand for Scottish salmon is great news for jobs and communities in rural Scotland and we aim to continue working constructively with Government and local authorities to achieve growth and economic benefits in these areas."
Scottish Development International (SDI) chief executive Anne MacColl said: "The fact farmed salmon is now Scotland's largest food export underlines the contribution it makes to our economy."
l People who eat at least one serving of fatty fish, such as salmon, trout, mackerel or kippers, a week are said to be less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than those who do not, according to a study in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Researchers collected dietary information on 32,000 women born between 1914 and 1948. They completed lifestyle surveys, providing information about what food they ate, in 1987 and 1997.
During this time-frame 205 women developed rheumatoid arthritis.
After adjusting for factors such as smoking, alcohol and age, it was found women with consistently high daily intake in both 1987 and 1997 of more than 0.21g of omega 3 Pufas had a 52% decreased risk in developing the condition.
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