Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2024

6. Summary

Rainbow trout

The production of rainbow trout decreased by 12% in 2024 to 8,171 tonnes and was directed at the table (94%) and restocking (6%) markets. The overall number of staff employed by the sector decreased by 30 people (22%) to 106 employees. There was an increase in the productivity of the sector to 77.1 tonnes per person.

In 2024, the number of eyed ova laid down to hatch was 4.5 million and was mainly triploid stock (97%). The proportion of ova from GB broodstock increased to 50% of the total. Suppliers within the EU were the largest source of imported ova accounting for 58% of the total, this was an increase proportionally from 2023. In addition to GB produced ova, the sector has a reliance on imported ova. No producers imported part grown rainbow trout from Northern Ireland in 2024, marking a departure from a practice that has been common in previous years.

Atlantic salmon

In 2024, total Atlantic salmon production increased by 41,051 tonnes (27%) reaching 192,000 tonnes. This increase was driven by a rise in the mean harvest weight of year 0 salmon, grilse and pre-salmon, as well as an increase in the number of fish produced across all categories (year 0, grisle, pre-salmon and year 2). The mean harvest weight for year 2 salmon remained unchanged. Survival to harvest declined from 68.7% in the 2021 year class to 61.8% in the 2022 year class. The number of staff directly employed on the farms decreased by 118 employees (8%). Overall, there was an increase of productivity, in tonnes produced per person, from 102 to 141. The trend towards concentrating production in larger sites was maintained with 89% of production being concentrated in the sites producing over 1,000 tonnes per annum. The harvest forecast for 2025 is estimated to be 195,182 tonnes.

During 2024, there was a slight decrease in the number of ova produced to 55.7 million. The number of ova laid down to hatch increased by 20% to 89.5 million. 2024 saw 59% of ova being imported with the remaining 41% being derived from GB broodstock (an increase of 1% on the 2023 figure). Smolt production decreased to 44.6 million, with 52% being produced as S½ smolts and 48% as S1 smolts. The number of staff directly employed on freshwater sites decreased by 25 (8%) in 2024 to 280 staff while productivity decreased to 159,400 smolts per person. Projections for 2025 suggest that more smolts will be produced than in 2024, followed by a further increase in 2026.

Other Species

Production of brown/sea trout decreased to 23 tonnes in 2024. Halibut production occurred in 2024 but the figure cannot be shown without revealing the production of individual companies. In 2024, wrasse continued to be produced for use as a biological control for parasites in the marine Atlantic salmon farming sector. Cleaner fish production figures were for adult fish and did not include production figures for larval stage cleaner fish which may have been traded for on-growing at facilities outside of Scotland. In 2024, the total number of staff employed in the production of other species decreased by nine people (24%) to 28 employees.