Scotland Aquaculture | Industry Review and Outlook

Sam Macdonald | May 22nd, 2018

An in-depth look at Scotland's aquaculture industry. With the growing number of revenue and jobs within the field, Scotland is quickly placing itself among the leaders in providing a clean and sustainable food source for the future.

History of Scotland Aquaculture

Scotland - a land historically known for its beautiful castles, the game of golf, and incredible scotch; may soon be known from another export; aquaculture.

Scottish aquaculture itself has quietly existed for generations along the North West coastlines of the Highlands and Islands - however, with a sector that is approaching 2 billion in revenue, the impact on the social and economic well being of Scottish fish farms and surrounding communities have the aquaculture industry taking note.

The Influence of Aquaculture in Scotland

To see the importance of Scotland aquaculture, you don't have to look far. The Scotland aquaculture industry employs more than 12,000 people within finfish and shellfish farms in the country; impressively lending itself to sustaining the economic and social fabric in rural and remote areas. Atlantic Salmon being the leading product accounting for 90% of the economic impact while generating £540 million in gross value added.

Global Need for Sustainable Food

The relevance of Scotland fish farms far outreaches the local economy - by 2030, the world’s population is projected to grow to 8.5 billion. With growing per capita consumption of protein and wild-catch volumes stagnating, Scotland aquaculture has crucial importance to the world’s food security.

Aligning with the vision of the European aquaculture industry, the entire continent aims to provide 4.5 million tonnes of sustainable food products annually. With only a handful of places with the right climatic and hydro-graphic conditions to farm salmon, the Scotland environment is a key player. The pristine waters that encircle the Scottish coast make an ideal home for finfish, shellfish, and aquaponic farms.

Leading the Way

With the cooperative initiatives and strategic direction of the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) and the Aquaculture Industry Leadership Group, the Scotland aquaculture industry has access to investments towards innovative and essential products to aid in maintaining their stock and submerged infrastructure.

Innovative Aquaculture Technology at Aquaculture UK

As a technologically innovative company that is already partnering with leading fish farms in Norway, Chile, and around the world, Deep Trekker is thrilled at the opportunity to meet with industry leaders this week at Aquaculture UK in Aviemore, Scotland. Deep Trekker’s remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) were designed to provide an environmentally friendly and cost-effective way for fish farms to monitor and inspect subsurface infrastructure to ensure safety and compliance. Speaking with the experts in Scotland, the Deep Trekker team is hoping to understand better, the differing needs of the regional coastal farms of the Highlands and Islands and work in tandem with the historically rich practices of Scottish fish farmers, while offering expertise in reaching environmental and sustainable compliance.

With key challenges addressed, the Scottish aquaculture industry can flourish, offering long-term prospects to young people all over Scotland and keeping communities sustainable. It can compete globally in the blue economy and farm the seas profitably and sustainability.