Production of farmed salmon in Scotland fell 4.1% last year although 2015 was the second highest amount recorded, a report has found.
The Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2015 revealed that production of Atlantic salmon decreased by 7,300 tonnes as the number of companies and sites in Scottish waters declined compared to 2014. The report by Marine Scotland Science found there were 16 businesses farming 254 active sites, a decrease of two businesses and six sites from the prior year.
Production of farmed rainbow trout rose by 46% to 8,588 tonnes. The report said this was the highest ever level of rainbow trout production recorded in Scotland and was due to an increase in marine production of 4,678 tonnes compared to 1,909 tonnes in 2014.
During 2015 there was an increase in the production of lumpsuckers and wrasse which are used as biological controls for parasites but there was a decrease in brown trout/sea trout and halibut production.
This year, the aquaculture industry is on course for an increase in the level of production with 177,857 tonnes expected to be produced.
The total number of staff in marine salmon production in 2015 increased by 38 to 1,363. Full time staff increased by 65 to 1,256 whilst part time staffing decreased by 27 to 107.
Brown/sea trout production decreased by six tonnes to 42 tonnes while halibut production decreased by 10 tonnes to 56 tonnes. But production estimates forecast an increase in trout (58 tonnes) and halibut (90 tonnes) this year.
Marine Scotland’s main science facilities are at the Marine Laboratory in Aberdeen and the Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory in Pitlochry. There are also field stations in Montrose and Shieldaig, which are supported by the Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory. In addition there are two research vessels, the MRV Scotia and MRV Alba na Mara, as well as several smaller ships, one of which is dedicated to an ecosystem monitoring site located three nautical miles from Stonehaven, south of Aberdeen.
