Salmon Scotland’s Response to the Programme for Government

Salmon Scotland has raised concerns regarding the recent announcement by John Swinney about improvements to the consenting process for aquaculture developments. On Tuesday, Swinney highlighted plans aimed at projects located between three and 12 nautical miles from the coast. However, Salmon Scotland indicated that these changes may inadequately address the immediate needs of farmers operating closer to shore, where excessive regulations are hindering sustainable growth and delaying essential revenues that support public services.

In the same address, the First Minister announced an additional £5 million investment in Scotland’s food and drink strategy, along with another £5 million aimed at supporting food processing and marketing initiatives.

Representing the UK’s largest food export sector, Salmon Scotland supports around 12,500 jobs in Scotland and contributes £760 million to the local economy.

Unmet Recommendations and Calls for Action

More than three years have passed since the independent review conducted by Professor Russel Griggs, which outlined a comprehensive roadmap for improved regulations, yet the recommendations have not been fully realized.

Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, expressed his thoughts:

“The Scottish Government’s plans to streamline the approval process for offshore aquaculture developments show an understanding of the current system’s inefficiencies. However, this focus does not alleviate the challenges faced by shore-based farmers who are eager to invest and support coastal communities.

“Three years post-Griggs review, we are still expecting real change. Without this, we are unable to create the skilled local jobs that our sector can offer. Furthermore, proper funding for planning departments is crucial, enabling faster decisions not just for salmon farming, but across various sectors.”

“We are prepared to collaborate with ministers to ensure the new funding benefits communities and champions Scotland’s most valuable food export. We are aiming for growth that supports the economy; now it is essential for the government to reduce the regulatory burdens to make that a reality.”

Key Commitments in the 2025-2026 Programme for Government

The latest Programme for Government includes the following commitments:

• Streamlining the consenting process for aquaculture, improving efficiency and clarifying regulations for developments situated three to 12 nautical miles offshore.
• Investing an additional £5 million in Scotland’s food and drink strategy to stimulate growth, alongside £5 million for supporting food processing and marketing.

Further Insights on the Griggs Report

The Griggs report, published on February 10, 2022, was accepted by the Scottish Government, which included the recommendation to “work collaboratively through a project board to establish a 10-year framework for all sectors within aquaculture (finfish, shellfish, and seaweed) within a year.”

Additional recommendations from the Griggs report emphasized:

“Introducing a new single licensing payment based on the tonnage output of each site, addressing the costs involved for all parties in the process and ensuring community benefits.”

For more details, you can access the Griggs report here.