MSP VISITS COOKE TO WITNESS POSITIVE IMPACT OF SALMON FARMING

MSP Visits Cooke to Witness Positive Impact of Salmon Farming on Rural Communities 

Emma Roddick MSP witnessed the positive impact farmed-raised salmon has on rural communities during a visit to Cooke Scotland’s Shetland operations.

The Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Highlands and Islands learned of Cooke’s significant investment in ensuring the health and welfare of its premium Scottish salmon on the Vatsetter farm off the isle of Yell.

She also saw first-hand how Cooke keeps remote communities viable by providing skilled, well-paid, and rewarding jobs while meeting with local staff during a tour of its Yell Processing Factory.

Scottish Salmon is the UK’s largest food export and around one in five salmon farmed across the country are grown in Shetland, making the island an integral part of the Scottish salmon farming sector.

Aquaculture and fishing is Shetland’s biggest contributor to the local economy where Cooke is the major employer in Yell and one of the largest on Scotland’s northern isles. The Scottish salmon sector in Shetland supports more than 400 direct and 1,200 indirect jobs, making up 20% of the economy.

David Brown, Cooke Scotland Shetland Regional Manager, and Tavish Scott, Chief Executive of trade body Salmon Scotland, welcomed the MSP to Cooke’s Yell operations on 16 August 2024.

Tavish Scott, Emma Roddick and David Brown

Emma Roddick MSP, a member of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee (RAIC) conducting an inquiry into Scottish salmon farming, said: “Fish farming plays an important role in Shetland’s local economy, particularly around the recruitment and retention of a local workforce. I enjoyed hearing directly from the team in Yell about the work going on to ensure fish health, prevent escapes and adapt to new technologies.

“As I’m taking part in an inquiry which is ongoing into salmon farming, I felt it was important to see things for myself up close, and I enjoyed feeding the fish and learning more about how to spot sickness in salmon. The workers in Yell obviously care about the animals they farm and the quality of the product at the end of the process and I look forward to continuing to learn about the industry as the inquiry seeks to answer questions, which land agriculture also faces, on how to best improve sustainability.”

David Brown said: “It was a pleasure to host Emma and Tavish to allow them to see how we are prioritising animal welfare on our farms to continue responsibly growing sustainable, high-quality salmon to distribute to more than 16 different countries worldwide.

“The visit was also an opportunity to highlight our commitment to providing long-term employment to some of the UK’s most remote communities, and how our local investment helps businesses to thrive and attracts people and their families to live on the islands.”

Tavish Scott commented: “We welcome Scotland’s elected representatives visiting salmon farms, asking any questions they want and recognising the weather our farmers work in everyday to look after the fish in their care. Emma Roddick MSP’s visit on a wet and blustery day in Shetland was fish farming as it so normally is and contrasts with a more sunny picture showing Scottish salmon exports are on track for their best year ever.”

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Main Image: David Brown and Emma Roddick MSP