SALMON SCOTLAND WELCOMES MAIRI GOUGEON’S CONTINUED ROLE AS RURAL AFFAIRS SECRETARY

Salmon Scotland welcomes Mairi Gougeon’s continued role as Rural Affairs Secretary. First Minister Humza Yousaf has announced his new cabinet, with Mairi Gougeon remaining as Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands.

Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said:

“We have enjoyed an excellent relationship with Mairi and we look forward to continuing our positive engagement. She fully understands the vital importance of our sector, which contributes £760 million to the economy, and knows how hard our farmers work to prioritise fish welfare and produce one of the most nutritious products we can eat. We have a number of issues we want the Scottish Government to prioritise, including the rural housing shortage and the need for a more streamlined licensing regime, so that we can deliver further sustainable growth in Scotland.”

Fresh Scottish salmon accounts for more than £500 million worth of fish sales across the UK retail market annually. This represents 48 per cent of the overall UK fish market, making it the most valuable single product in this category. The product is also the UK’s biggest and most valuable food export, exported to more than 50 countries annually.

The salmon sector adds more than £760 million to the economy every year. At the same time, it spends £370 million, supporting over 3,600 suppliers across Scotland. More than 2,500 people are directly employed in salmon farming throughout the country, with 10,000 jobs dependent on the sector.

The Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation (SSPO) changed its name to Salmon Scotland in November 2021.