£183.7m spent on joint-funded Scottish salmon innovation projects since 2018
Survey shows record of commitment but warns long-term funding is required to keep momentum
The value of publicly supported innovation projects involving Scotland’s salmon farming sector has reached almost £183.7 million since 2018, an independent survey has revealed.
The figure excludes projects funded entirely by companies, meaning overall research and development spending is likely to be significantly higher.
The spending review was commissioned by the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) and trade body Salmon Scotland, and conducted by research consultancy Frontline. It concludes that innovation has broadened across every major area of salmon farming.
More than £83 million has gone into fish health and welfare alone, supporting work on vaccines, diagnostics, welfare tools, and disease prevention.
Significant backing has also been directed towards sea lice management, including biological controls, new treatment technologies, and AI-enabled detection systems.
The Scottish Government’s Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said the report endorsed the positive impact of long running public investment in aquaculture innovation.
“Scottish salmon aquaculture is a highly agile sector, constantly adapting to the complex marine environment – and it is able to do that because of the focus collectively put on generating world class aquaculture science.
“The changing marine environment continues to present challenges, and Scotland’s track record of innovation indicates the sector will rise to those challenges to ensure the sustainable development of aquaculture into the future.”
Continuity is important
Frontline director Dr Suzanne Hamilton said funding had supported real progress in fish health and welfare, environmental sustainability, and productivity, but warned against reducing public investment in research in the coming years
“Innovation is not instant. The impacts of research and development are often realised over several years as new approaches are tested and adopted. While support in recent years has been substantial, the future landscape is less certain, with fewer aquaculture-specific funding calls ahead.
“Continued, targeted investment will be important to maximise the benefits of what has already been achieved.”
Increased robustness
Genetics and breeding programmes have advanced in parallel. One of the largest initiatives is the £8.5 million Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Business and Academia Partnership Prosperity Programme project, Drivers of Salmon Robustness. Delivered with salmon farmer Mowi Scotland and the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute, the programme aims to breed salmon that are more resilient to farming challenges. Those involved say the work is already delivering practical results, from new tools to identify high-performing fish to technologies that enhance fish health and welfare, alongside education programmes in regional schools.
Across all the companies interviewed for the review, 88% said employment would have been lower without innovation activity, while 76% reported that turnover would also have been reduced.
Much of the work has been carried out jointly by salmon producers and Scotland’s universities, spanning faster disease detection, improved breeding strategies, and enhanced environmental monitoring.
Longer-term support
The review warns that innovation can still be slowed by short-term funding and lengthy regulatory processes, making it harder to test and adopt new ideas quickly. It calls for longer-term support and faster routes to trials if momentum is to continue.
Projects highlighted range from real-time alerts for harmful algal blooms to advances in fish health. Among the successes is WellFish Tech, a spin-out from the University of the West of Scotland that provides rapid, AI-driven blood diagnostics, with results returned within 24 hours to help farmers monitor salmon health and welfare. Faster results mean farmers can respond sooner if there are signs of stress or disease.
Vaccines and diagnostics
Dr Iain Berrill, head of technical at Salmon Scotland, said: “This review shows the scale of innovation now under way in salmon farming in Scotland.
“Salmon farmers in Scotland already operate to some of the highest standards in the world, but like any form of food production, we must invest in the latest research and innovation. Much of this investment has gone into fish health and welfare, from vaccines and diagnostics to technology that helps detect issues sooner and improve outcomes.
“There has also been significant progress in breeding, environmental monitoring, and tackling sea lice.
“Continuing to innovate will be essential to maintaining standards and building resilience for the future.”
Exceptional collaboration
Sarah Riddle, head of research and innovation at SAIC, said the volume of activity and the speed at which new ideas are being developed show exceptional collaboration across industry and academia.
“The scale and breadth of activity highlight Scotland’s position as a global leader in aquaculture,” added Riddle. “Crucially, they show that these projects are delivering real‑world impact: better fish health, improved productivity, new technologies, enhanced environmental performance and climate readiness.
“Continued, strategic support for collaboration and innovation is essential to maintain this momentum. With the right long‑term investment, infrastructure and regulatory alignment, Scotland is well placed to build on its achievements and enhance the sector’s resilience, competitiveness and sustainability.”
