Farm technicians at work at the Carradale site of Scotland's biggest salmon farmer, Mowi Scotland. The Scottish industry harvested 192,129 tonnes (wet weight) of Atlantic salmon in 2020. Photo: Mowi.

Scottish salmon production fell by 5.8% last year

The volume of Atlantic salmon harvested in Scotland decreased by 11,752 tonnes (5.8%) to 192,129 tonnes (wet weight) last year, according to figures published by government agency Marine Scotland Science today.

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The harvest figure is the second highest annual level of production recorded in Scotland, following 2019’s record of 203,881 tonnes.

The production figure is included in the Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2020.

The total number of smolts produced in 2020 decreased by 0.9 million (2%) to 50.5 million.

Rainbow trout

Production tonnage of rainbow trout increased by 2% in 2020 to 7,576 tonnes.

Brown and sea trout production decreased from 25 tonnes in 2019 to 24 tonnes in 2020.

The total number of staff employed in marine salmon production during 2020 decreased by 21 to 1,630 staff.