Scottish Sea Farms Injects £170 Million into Local Economy

Scottish Sea Farms has made significant strides in supporting local economies, with an impressive investment of nearly £170 million in the local supply chain over the past year. This investment has positively impacted 573 Scottish businesses across the four regions where the company operates.

Economic Contributions and Growth

The data for 2025 indicates a growth in Scottish Sea Farms’ economic contributions, escalating from £167.3 million in 2024 to over £167.8 million. This increase exemplifies the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainable development in the salmon sector.

Employment and Community Impact

Scottish Sea Farms employed 642 individuals last year, with a total salary expenditure of approximately £33.8 million. Notably, Shetland emerged as the leading region in terms of payroll, with over £15 million allocated to nearly 300 staff. As the largest private employer in Shetland, the company plays a crucial role in sustaining rural jobs, providing around 160 marine roles across 20 active marine farms. Additionally, £27.1 million was spent in the Shetland supply chain, which supported 124 island businesses and contractors.

In Argyll, the company contributed £13.5 million, benefiting 77 suppliers while incurring salary costs of £8.2 million, thereby supporting 193 direct jobs. The Highlands saw an investment of more than £10.9 million among 82 local suppliers, and Scottish Sea Farms’ salary costs stood at £3.3 million for its workforce of 55. Orkney also benefited, with an expenditure of over £1.4 million for 65 suppliers and salary costs of £3.8 million, generating 73 jobs across nine marine farms.

“Salmon farming is embedded in some of Scotland’s most remote areas, bringing valuable employment opportunities and an economic lifeline to rural communities,” said Jim Gallagher, Managing Director of Scottish Sea Farms.

Investing in the Future Workforce

In a bid to secure a skilled workforce for the future, Scottish Sea Farms recruited 61 Modern Apprentices last year, dedicating 186.5 hours to 32 career-centric events and site visits across its farming regions. Additionally, the company’s Heart of the Community fund donated £147,353 to more than 200 local causes in 2025, accumulating over £2 million since its inception in 2011.

Environmental Commitment and Compliance

Encouragingly, marine survival rates reached 89.1% in the last year. Scottish Sea Farms conducted 387 audits, both internal and external, and achieved a compliance rate of 96% with Environmental Quality Standards (for seabed at pen edge from 2020-2024). The company’s sites occupy approximately 0.021% (5.57km²) of Scotland’s marine inshore waters.

Future Growth Strategies

The company is actively pursuing growth, with the new farm at Billy Baa slated to have a biomass consent of 4,091 tonnes, and the Fish Holm development set for 6,000 tonnes. These initiatives focus on establishing larger farms in optimal locations with deeper waters and stronger currents.

Local Supplier Support

Local suppliers have expressed enthusiasm for the company’s growth plans. Colin Leask, Director of Ocean Farm Services, noted that a focus on fewer but larger modern sites promotes sustainable long-term practices in Scottish aquaculture:

“With Ocean Farm Services operating a team of around 70 employees, all from communities across Scotland, we are proud to support Scottish Sea Farms’ operations through our ROV net washing and wellboat services.”

Neil Leslie, Commercial Director of Northwards, emphasized the importance of the new farms in maintaining Shetland’s transport links and the employment tied to them:

“We are continually investing in and developing our own infrastructure to support the salmon sector’s growth plans but, additionally, it is the wider supply chain that is equally vital.”

Conclusion

Scottish Sea Farms is poised to continue its positive impact on the economy and communities it serves. With a strong commitment to sustainable practices and significant investments in local suppliers, the company is paving the way for a resilient future in Scottish aquaculture.

Image: Scottish Sea Farms