Fisher Farmer – 18th January 2026
“Two reports looking into the economic impacts of Scotland’s salmon farming industry were published this winter, but with contrasting conclusions.
Here we explore the findings from both, to help you decide.”
The full article can be read here: Fish Farmer 180126
“A critical view
A second report into the economic impacts of Scotland’s salmon farming industry, ‘Assessing the Economic Impact of Salmon Farming in Skye & Lochalsh: An Exploratory Scoping Study’, offered a counter view, however.
This study, by analysts Dr Andrew Moxey and Dr Angela Tregear of the University of Edinburgh, which uses Skye and Lochalsh as a case study, argued that “the industry overplays its economic benefits and downplays its costs”.
The report was commissioned by the Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust (SIFT) and WildFish, a UK charity campaigning for wild fish and their environment.
Charles Millar, Executive Director of SIFT, summarised: “The salmon industry operating in Scotland may tout itself as a success story, but we now have data on the jobs it costs in other sectors.
“All too often the benefits don’t stay in Scotland, the profits flow overseas, and local communities are left with both the bills and the environmental consequences.”
Giving further details, a WildFish spokesperson added: “Across Scotland as a whole, official statistics show that salmon farming production jobs have fallen in the last decade. In Skye and Lochalsh, the report estimates that approximately 137 people currently work in the industry, some 2% of the local workforce.
Negative impact
“However, the report estimates that the negative impacts of salmon farming have cost between 12 and 38 jobs locally in other sectors, including in mussel farming, creeling and marine tourism, all of which have markedly lower environmental impacts than open cage salmon farming.
“Multinationals, which own most of Scotland’s salmon farms, also receive substantial UK tax credits and grants, in some years receiving more than they pay in tax.
“Moreover, the industry requires extensive government oversight, which is funded from the public purse, while salmon farms have been exempt from local business rates since 1981.”
Andrew Moxey, co-author of the report and former Chief Agricultural Economist for the Scottish Government, added: “Published official guidance for economic appraisals emphasises the importance of estimating net effects accounting for costs as well as benefits.
“Doing so for salmon farming is hindered by a lack of data, but our findings from Skye and Lochalsh confirm that headline figures exaggerate the net benefit to Scotland and host communities. Better data and more routine analysis would help to inform debate about the magnitude and distribution of net benefits and their relevance to achieving different policy objectives.”
Calling for an “independent, Scotland-wide” analysis, SIFT’s Executive Director Charles Millar concluded: “At the very least, this industry should now be required to pay its way and make a fair contribution to the parts of Scotland where its harmful effects are most widespread.
“The Scottish Government has spent far too many years touting the benefits of salmon farming and ignoring its costs: we need an independent Scotland-wide economic analysis of this sector before the multinationals get a penny more in state funding or any new planning approvals.” ”
