Wild salmon strategy implementation plan: annual progress report 2024
The second annual progress report under the Scottish wild salmon strategy implementation plan covering progress in 2024.
Theme 3: Understanding and mitigating pressures in the marine and coastal environment (9 actions)
Action 3.1 - Safeguard salmon and critical habitat through National, Regional and Sectoral Marine Plan policies and licensing of marine activity and development, recognising its protected status
Ongoing
There was continued development of a new National Marine Plan for Scotland’s seas (NMP2) which will support sustainable development of our seas, protect our marine environment, and deliver for our coastal communities. A revised Statement of Public Participation and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy was published in August 2024 and Planning Position Statement (PPS) for NMP2 which closed in February 2025. The PPS draws together early-stage work in the development of the NMP2 and feedback will be used to inform the development of the draft plan.
Action 3.2 - Improve our understanding of the coastal and marine migration patterns of salmon through collaborative research projects
Ongoing
The data collection phase of the West Coast Tracking Project (a partnership between the Atlantic Salmon Trust, FMS and the Marine Directorate, providing a unique study aimed to advance our understanding of the marine and near-coastal migratory distribution wild Atlantic salmon) is complete. Analysis has since commenced. SEPA was brought into this process as the data will inform the ongoing development and adaption of the Sea Lice Risk Assessment Framework.
Action 3.3 - Develop and undertake a coordinated approach to research projects through ScotMER to improve our understanding of the potential impacts of marine renewable developments on salmon
Ongoing
A video of the 6th ScotMER symposium (2024) diadromous fish session is online.
An acoustic telemetry project in the Moray Firth is ongoing to identify the movements of migrating salmonids within and around two operational wind farms. This year, a presentation of the preliminary findings was given at the 7th ScotMER symposium in February 2025 and an interim report summarising progress was prepared in March 2025. The remaining acoustic receivers will be retrieved in May 2025 after which a final report will be prepared.
Action 3.4 - Protecting and enhancing marine biodiversity, including salmon and the habitats they depend on, through a well-managed network of Marine Protected Areas, Highly Protected Marine Areas and other conservation measures, and implementing the UK Marine Strategy to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status
Ongoing
In December 2024, the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate published a report to Parliament on progress being made in implementing Scotland’s Marine Protected Area network, available via the following web link Marine Protected Area network: 2024 report to the Scottish Parliament.
Marine Directorate also completed consultation on fisheries management measures within Scottish Offshore Marine Protected Areas offshore measures and published the consultation analysis.
Action 3.5 - Implement the actions set out in our response to the recommendations of the Salmon Interactions Working Group to mitigate the risks and impact of fish farming on wild salmon
Ongoing
Progress in response to the Salmon Interactions Working Group report was an area of interest to the Scottish Parliament Rural Affairs and Islands Committee as part of its recent inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland. The Committee published its findings on 17 January 2025 and most recently, the Scottish Government responded in March.
SEPA commenced implementation of the new Sea Lice Risk Assessment Framework to protect wild salmon populations on 1 February 2024. The framework for protecting sea trout populations commenced in March 2025.
Progress towards the introduction of penalties for escapes from fish farms in Scotland is described at Action 3.7.
Action 3.6 - Continued development and phased implementation of the risk assessment framework for managing the interaction between sea lice from marine fish farm developments and wild salmon and sea trout in Scotland
Ongoing
A major milestone was the application of SEPA’s Sea Lice Risk Assessment Framework (SLRAF) following its phased implementation in February 2024. This tool is designed to help support the sustainable development of fish farming in Scotland by introducing wild salmon protection zones on the west coast of Scotland and Western Isles which will help to guide development towards the least sensitive locations, while introducing a higher degree of sea lice control for finfish farm operators in these areas. The framework for protecting sea trout populations started in March 2025.
Fish farming businesses have appealed sea lice reporting and sea lice limit conditions issued to existing fish farms by SEPA as part of the implementation of the SLRAF. SEPA continues to implement the SLRAF as directed to ensure environmental protection for new and expanded fish farms.
Work will be ongoing to deliver a national monitoring strategy by the end of 2025 which will allow the transition away from management of this issue under Environmental Management Plans.
Crown Estate Scotland continues to fund the post of Aquaculture Interactions Manager within FMS.
Action 3.7 - Strengthen controls to reduce farmed fish escapes and explore the introduction of penalties with the ultimate aim of redistributing this money to support salmon conservation and research
Ongoing
The Scottish Government response to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee’s report on salmon farming in Scotland includes a commitment to prioritise progress on penalties for fish farm escapes in 2026/2027. Initial scoping work has commenced to consider options for the introduction of penalties.
Action 3.8 - Restrict fishing activity or prohibit fishing for species which are integral components of the marine food web, such as sandeels
Ongoing
There was no change to the position reported previously which was that following a public consultation, the Scottish Government announced that fishing for sandeel in Scottish waters would be prohibited from 26 March 2024.
Action 3.9 - Apply the National Planning Framework 4 policy to not support further salmon and trout open pen fish farm developments on the north and east coasts of Scotland to safeguard migratory fish species
Ongoing
There was no change to position reported previously, which was that National Planning Framework 4 has been adopted which includes Policy 32(a) stating that to safeguard migratory fish species, further salmon and trout open pen fish farm developments on the North and East coasts of mainland Scotland will not be supported.