Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey forecasts a production total of 236,000 tonnes. Meanwhile, organic production almost trebles.
According to figures from the Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2020, production of farmed Atlantic salmon in Scotland was down 5.8 per cent to 192,129 tonnes in 2020, but the survey forecasts a production total of 236,000 tonnes for this year – the highest on record.
Published on Thursday by Marine Scotland Science, the annual Production Survey details statistics on employment and production at Scottish fish farms. The report also shows that there was a small decline in the number of staff employed in marine salmon production, which was down 1.27 per cent to 1,630.
The total number of smolts produced in 2020 decreased by 0.9 million (2 per cent) to 50.5 million.
The survey also shows that the smolt survival rate for Atlantic salmon for the 2018 input year class increased to 75.9 per cent (2017: 73.8 per cent).
Mortality is included in the number of fish not harvested for human consumption, including escapes. The report notes that approximately 1,600 rainbow trout and 205,000 Atlantic salmon were reported as escaped or likely to have escaped.
