Aquaculture

UK aquaculture is an efficient user of energy and resources. While much of the Scottish aquaculture production is exported, aquaculture also makes an important contribution to food security. To meet the Food Standards Scotland and National Health Service currently recommended two portions of fish a week per person, significant growth is needed in aquaculture production. It is also important because of its capacity to produce food rich in omega-3 oils that help to promote health.

Production figures

As well as sea-based fish farming there is also a land-based freshwater industry which is not covered in this assessment. Production figures in other publications may differ slightly if they include freshwater production.

Scotland is the world’s 3^rd largest producer of farmed Atlantic salmon (behind Norway & Chile). In 2018, Scotland produced 156,025 tonnes of Atlantic salmon (Figure 1), 3,363 tonnes of marine rainbow trout (Figure a) and a small amount of  brown trout and halibut. Lumpsucker (14 tonnes) and ballen wrasse (6 tonnes) were also produced in 2018 as cleaner fish mainly for use by the marine Atlantic salmon sector where they are used as a biological control for parasites. Production statistics are from the annual Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2018 (Scottish Government, 2019a).

Figure a: Other marine finfish production and value (2009 - 2018), all Scotland.

Source: Marine Scotland. Includes sea trout and marine rainbow trout. (Small amounts of halibut were also produced annually but cannot be shown for confidentiality reasons)

 

Shellfish production was dominated by mussels with 6,874 tonnes being produced in 2018 (Figure 2). Pacific oyster (4,031,000 shells) (Figure b), native oyster (142,000 shells), scallop (31,000 shells) and queen scallop (18,000 shells) were also cultured. Production statistics are from the annual Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2018 (Scottish Government, 2019b).

Figure b: Pacific oyster production and value (2009 - 2018), all Scotland. Source: Marine Scotland.

Figure c: Other Scottish shellfish production and value (2009 - 2018) (All Scotland). Source: Marine Scotland.

Note: Includes Native oyster, queen scallop and scallop.

With 5.8 percent annual growth rate since 2010, aquaculture continues to grow faster than other major food production sectors globally. In 2016, world aquaculture production increased by 4 million tonnes over the previous year. By 2030, the world will eat 20% more fish (or 30 million tonnes live equivalent) than in 2016. Aquaculture production in 2030 is projected to reach 109 million tonnes, a growth rate of 37 percent over 2016 (FAO, 2018).

Regional production

Aquaculture production by Scottish Marine Region from 2009 to 2018 is shown in Figure d (Salmon), Figure e (Mussels) and Figure f (Pacific oyster).

Consenting process

New fish farm sites are subject to local authority planning permission. The authorities deal with each new fish farm site on its merits through the terrestrial planning process. Advice is provided by statutory consultees including Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Marine Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage together with representations from other interested parties and the general public. A fish farm also needs up to 4 further consents to operate, issued by Marine Scotland, SEPA, and a Crown Estate Scotland lease (see Marine Scotland web site).

The decision making process will also take into account the locational guidance issued by Marine Scotland and the presence of disease management areas, which were established in 2000 based on separation distances around active farms taking into account tidal excursions and other epidemiological risk factors.

Where a farm is granted planning permission, the local authority may impose conditions on the development to manage its effects on the environment. The Scottish Government’s response to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee report on Salmon Farming in Scotland (29 January 2019) included that, as part of any future request for planning advice, Marine Scotland will now expect a condition requiring an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to be delivered for any consents for marine aquaculture planning applications (when there is/or there is potential for wild/farmed fish interaction).

Challenges

There are many challenges to fish and shellfish farming, these include:

• Wild fish used in feed: remains an issue but actions by the industry, recognition of efficient feed conversion, and other considerations may counteract criticism.
• Farmed fish escaping from nets, see below.
• Seals eating farmed fish: see below.
• Sea lice, see below.

Escapes

There are occasions when farmed fish will escape from their nets. Escapes may occur due to storm damage, predator damage and human error. To address concerns around escapes – Scottish Government published ‘A Technical Standard for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture’ in 2015 which sets out technical requirements for all species of finfish farm equipment across Scotland:

• Once farmed salmon have escaped into the wild they are difficult to recapture and it is difficult to mitigate potential environmental impact. The best form of mitigation is adherence to appropriate technical standards to prevent escapes.
• The standard is designed to be used alongside operational procedures and staff training to ensure equipment is used and maintained appropriately and procedures followed correctly.

In March 2018, the Improved Containment Working Group consisting of industry and Government reconvened and work is ongoing to:

• update the Standard;
• discuss how compliance with the standard can be achieved;
• discuss the merits of investing in training on the standard.

The instances and number of fish involved are reported on the Scotland’s Aquaculture web site. Table a shows recent seawater escapes, from 77 instances.

Seal licensing

On 31 January 2011, Part 6 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 came into force which seeks to balance seal conservation with sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. A licensing system provides for the shooting of seals in certain circumstances. Marine Scotland publishes details of the number of licences issued and seals shot. Figure g shows a general decline in both the numbers of applications and licences granted between 2011 and 2018. In addition Figure h shows a steady decline in the numbers of seals shot (red trend line).

Figure g: Comparison between numbers of seals on applications and numbers granted 2011 to 2018.

Source: Marine licensing: seal licensing records, 2011-present, Marine Scotland.

Figure h: Numbers of seals granted on the license and numbers shot 2011 to 2018.

Source: Marine licensing: seal licensing records, 2011-present, Marine Scotland.

Sea lice

Despite challenges, the salmon farming industry has reported that sea lice averages in 2018 were their lowest for 6 years. Monthly sea lice reports are available from Scottish Salmon. Scottish Government is committed to improving sea lice management. As part of Scotland’s Farmed Fish Health Framework (Scottish Government, 2018), Scottish Government undertook a review of farmed fish sea lice policy. This resulted in strengthening of the sea lice management regime by lowering the sea lice reporting and intervention thresholds.  If a reporting threshold i.e. the weekly average number of female sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) per fish on a site reaches or exceeds 2, it must be reported to the Fish Health Inspectorate at which point there will be increased monitoring and surveillance. If a threshold of 6 female sea lice per fish is reached or exceeded, Fish Health Inspectorate will intervene with a range of actions which can culminate in the issuing of enforcement notices if numbers are not reduced to below reporting thresholds. In 2020, sea lice reporting legislation will be introduced which will require an average adult female sea lice report, weekly in arrears, to be submitted to Scottish Government. Unless there is evidence to the contrary the reporting and intervention levels will be reduced to 2 and 4 average adult female lice per fish respectively in 2021.

Figure i: Finfish farm, Greshornish, Skye. Photo by Sonia Duguid.

Figure j: Oyster trestles, Kyle of Tongue, Highland. Photo by Andrea Warwick

 

Innovation and funding for research and development

The Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) helps the Scottish aquaculture industry to tackle challenges and accelerate sustainable growth by connecting industry and academics, and funding and supporting commercially relevant, collaborative research and knowledge exchange. During Phase 1 of their funding programme (2014 to 2019), SAIC built on the Scottish Government’s original investment of £11.1 m with 34 projects worth £27.2 m, attracting £15.2 m from industry and £5.2 m from other sources.

Scottish Government has awarded £15m (£11.25 m from EU and £3.75 m from SG) in European and Maritime Fisheries Fund funding to 54 Aquaculture projects since 2016, unlocking over £30 m total sector expenditure on innovation in the fish and shellfish farming sectors.