SCOTTISH SALMON SURVIVAL BEST ON RECORD

Scottish salmon survival best on record. Survival rates of farmed salmon in Scotland have reached record highs following a multi-million-pound investment in technology.

New figures show monthly survival averaged 99.12 per cent between January and June, the best start to a year since data was first voluntarily published in 2018. This reflects continued improvements in fish health and environmental conditions.

Since 2018, the sector has invested more than £1 billion in innovation across veterinary care, technology and stock management. This strong start to 2025 builds on last year’s progress. Cumulative mortality, the total number of fish deaths over time, fell by more than a third in 2024.

Overall survival across all farms reached 82.3 per cent, up 10 percentage points from 72.3 per cent the year before. Higher survival rates mean more high-protein, low-carbon meals are reaching consumers, boosting food security and fuelling economic growth through rising sales at home and abroad.

Exports rose by 45 per cent to a record £844 million last year, equivalent to £2.31 million per day, cementing Scottish salmon as the UK’s largest food export. Domestic sales also increased by 9.1 per cent in the 12 months to June 2024, with salmon remaining the UK’s most popular fish.

Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said:

“These figures demonstrate our members’ commitment to fish health and welfare, and to responsible farming. Scottish salmon farmers uphold the highest animal welfare standards in the world, but they are always striving to do better. The hard work of our farmers, supported by more than a billion pounds of investment in new technology, has been rewarded with survival rates at record highs.

“At the same time, demand for Scottish salmon is soaring at home and overseas. This is thanks to its reputation for quality and sustainability, and the vital role it plays in supporting coastal communities and the wider economy. Consumers continue to clamour for Scottish salmon. They recognise the quality and nutritional value of the fish we grow in our seas.”

Farm-raised salmon spend up to 18 months at sea. Like all farmed animals, they can face natural environmental challenges that threaten survival. To maximise survival, producers have invested more than £1 billion since 2018 in a range of measures, including state-of-the-art freshwater treatment vessels, research, efforts to reduce the time salmon spend at sea, staff training, and improved monitoring systems.

These measures are helping farmers better manage jellyfish blooms and warmer seawater, improving both fish health and sustainability. The Scottish salmon sector is the only farmed animal sector in the UK to publish survival statistics.

Average monthly survival rates on Scottish salmon farms in January – June of each year:

• 2025: 99.12%
• 2024: 98.81%
• 2023: 98.66 %
• 2022: 98.73%
• 2021: 99.03 %
• 2020: 98.98%
• 2019: 98.94%
• 2018: 98.93%

Full mortality rates are available here.

Source: https://www.salmonscotland.co.uk/reports/monthly-mortality-rate-june-2025