Aquaculture

Aquaculture in Scotland is approximately 50 years old and has grown considerably over the last decade.  A diverse range of species are produced including; Atlantic Salmon, Trout, Halibut, Lumpsuckers, Wrasse and Shellfish.

MSD Animal Health Aquaculture is passionate about producing market leading solutions to promote fish health and welfare among farmed salmon and trout.

The Aquaculture team work collaboratively with farm and management personnel within farming companies, providing biopharma products, technology solutions, technical services and support for both Atlantic Salmon and Trout species.

Some key facts:

  • Atlantic Salmon is the main species produced in the UK and is produced solely in Scotland with an estimated 177,000 tonnes produced in 2017.1
  • Aquaculture provides a net annual revenue of approximately £1.86 billion and employment for some 8,300 people in Scotland.
  • Salmon Farming is the largest employer in fragile coastal communities on the West Coast of Scotland, Inner and Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland.
  • Scotland’s salmon farmers adhere to the strictest production standards to produce the highest quality produce and were awarded ‘best farmed salmon in the world’ by an independent poll of international seafood buyers2, for the second consecutive year.
  • Scottish salmon is the first non-French food to be accredited with Label Rouge2, the prestigious quality mark granted by the French Ministry of Agriculture to products demonstrating superior quality and taste.
  • Farmed salmon production is extremely efficient and environmentally friendly.
  • Salmon farming also has a very low carbon footprint and low water usage.
  • Salmon farming uses extremely low volumes of antibiotics because of very effective vaccines.

Further information for farmers can be found on MSD Animal Health Hub.

References

1 https://www.fishfarmingexpert.com/article/scottish-salmon-production-down-5-2-in-2016/