New minister opens aquaculture trade show at new venue

Scottish Government marine minister Jim Fairlie today cut the ribbon to open the 2026 edition of Aquaculture UK and promised to resist calls for a moratorium on expansion.

He also provided a material example of his government’s support to the sector by announcing a £1.9 million grant from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to salmon farmer Cooke Scotland towards the £22m cost of its recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) smolt facility at Cairndow.

Cooke broke ground on the hatchery expansion in March, and has previously received support from Marine Fund Scotland. Work is expected to be completed next year, with the first eggs estimated to arrive on site in December 2027.

Fair shares for all

Fairlie, who was a sheep farmer before becoming an SNP MSP, said the government remained committed to ensuring communities that host salmon farming get a fair share of the benefits.

“That is underpinned by growth,” said the politician, who was appointed as minister for agriculture, the marine and the islands after May’s Scottish Parliament elections.

He added that aquaculture must play its part in halting biodiversity loss, and that ongoing investment in the circular economy will be ever more important.

Let us grow fish and the economy

Tavish Scott, chief executive of trade body Salmon Scotland, said salmon growers spend £700m on the supply chain represented in Aquaculture UK’s new venue, Hall 4 of the Scottish Exhibition Centre.

He added that the sector welcomed news that Scottish food and drink will now be part of the government’s economy brief.

“The economy is something we can help with. Growing salmon, growing stock is very much our buzz phrase. We would like to play our part in growing the economy and that can be helped by our ability to and our ability to be more efficient in Scotland, producing a greater and stronger industry,” said Scott.

A good blueprint

He referred to the independent report on aquaculture regulation commissioned by the Scottish Government and written by regulatory expert Professor Russel Griggs in 2022.

“There is a very good blueprint that was done by Russell Griggs. [Former aquaculture minister] Mairi Goujon, took that forward. We hope we'll take it forward even further because ultimately it's not about less regulation, it's about better regulation.”