Scottish Government to introduce new fish welfare guidance following committee review.
The Scottish Government has committed to introducing new official guidance on the welfare of farmed fish, a move that could lead to prosecutions for poor welfare practices, The Scotsman reports.
Rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon confirmed the plan in a letter to Holyrood’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee, stating that the government intends to introduce guidance under Section 38 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. Gougeon said the measure was “a pragmatic step in the progression of farmed fish welfare standards.”
The decision follows recommendations from the Committee’s earlier inquiry into salmon farming, which called for stronger enforcement powers for the Fish Health Inspectorate and improved transparency in welfare reporting.
The legal charity Animal Law Foundation (ALF), which has campaigned for clearer regulation, said the move represents a significant step toward ensuring existing welfare laws are applied in practice. “This is a huge step in giving practical effect to the legal protections that exist and protecting millions of fish more effectively,” said ALF executive director Edie Bowles.
SNP MSP Emma Roddick also welcomed the commitment, noting that fish farmers “find it challenging to know what is legally expected of them without official guidance.”
Campaigners have argued that current welfare rules are too loosely defined, with vague terms such as “avoid unnecessary suffering” making enforcement difficult. The new guidance is expected to complement existing rules that apply at the time of slaughter and extend them to other stages of production.
Industry body Salmon Scotland said the sector already operates to “world-leading welfare standards,” citing record survival rates and over £1 billion invested in technology, veterinary care and innovation. “We support clear, evidence-based guidance that recognises these high standards and helps ensure Scotland remains a global leader in responsible, sustainable farming,” a spokesperson said.
Further details on the new guidance are expected in due course.
