Salmon inquiry MSP takes first-hand look at farming

The deputy covener of the Scottish Parliament committee that held an inquiry into salmon farming in 2024 has taken up an invitation to visit a fish farm in her Shetland constituency to learn more about the sector.

Liberal Democrat MSP Beatrice Wishart visited the Cooke Scotland site last Friday, two days after the parliament's Rural Affairs and Islands Committee (RAIC) spent three hours discussing what had changed since it published its inquiry report and recommendations in January 2025.

Trade body Salmon Scotland last year described the changes recommended in the RAIC report as “disproportionate enforcement and ever more regulation”.

Learning about innovation

Wishart’s visit last Friday was hosted by Cooke Scotland regional manager David Brown.

“I’d like to thank Cooke Scotland for inviting me to see their salmon farming operations. It’s not only an important industry to Shetland but also to Scotland as a whole,” said the MSP.

“It was interesting to see first-hand how Cooke raises salmon at the seawater sites and learn about the investment and developments being made in the industry in terms of innovation.

“Salmon farming is a critical economic driver for rural and coastal communities, supporting thousands of high-skilled jobs as well as careers in the wider supply chain.”

Brown said: “It was a sunny but wet and windy day so it really was an insight in to how our farmers work tirelessly in all weathers to produce nutritious, healthy and sustainable food to feed a growing world population.

“We are grateful to Beatrice for her time. Visits like this are important in strengthening understanding of the opportunities and the challenges facing island businesses, and how Shetland’s salmon farms keep fragile rural communities viable.”

Shetland plays a central role to Cooke Scotland’s operations and the salmon farming sector contributes £91 million a year to the island’s economy, supporting around 1,000 jobs across the northern isles.

Cooke has seawater sites off the east coast of the islands of Yell and Unst, and off the west coast of mainland Shetland. It also operates a processing factory in Yell and freshwater sites in Unst.