Coastal Communities Network
Scotland

Aquaculture

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SEPA fish farm salmon — Scottish fish farm image © SEPA

The CCN Aquaculture sub-group is comprised of members who are active on issues related to salmon farming, and other forms of aquaculture. Together they hold a wealth of knowledge on the community perspective and local concerns around the environmental impacts of the salmon farming industry in Scotland.

In recent months, members have been meeting with aquaculture officials from Marine Scotland, Local Planning Authority representatives, SEPA and MSPs. A variety of briefings, consultation responses and letters have been produced, which can be found below.

The sub-group have presented large amounts of evidence to support the case for a temporary halt to expansion of the industry, until it can be shown to be environmentally sustainable.

Salmon Farming in Scotland

The salmon farming industry has been big news over the last year, with reviews carried out by the Scottish Government’s Environment, Climate Change and Land reform (ECCLR) and Rural Economy and Connectivity (REC) Committees, as well as SEPA opening their Finfish Aquaculture Sector Plan to consultation. The CCN Aquaculture sub-group have responded to these opportunities by raising the community perspective and their local concerns over the current impacts of the industry.

Scotland’s Wild Wrasse Fishery

Demand for ‘cleanerfish’ for use by the salmon farming industry is growing and much of this is satisfied by wild caught wrasse. Increased demand, alongside lack of data and weak governance measures, have led to Substantive concerns regarding the Scottish wrasse fishery. The CCN are a member of a multi-disciplinary wrasse working group looking at potential action to reform this industry in Scotland, to protect populations of these valuable and charasmatic fish.