Election offers chance for change in salmon sector, says industry expert

The upcoming Scottish Parliament election could and should be a “watershed moment” for salmon farming, a former regulatory chief and respected sustainability specialist has declared.

Anne Anderson believes a new government presents “a must-seize opportunity” to resolve the long-standing issues affecting the sector.

Anderson was chief officer of the regulatory portfolio at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) before joining the Scottish salmon sector to introduce its first-ever sustainability charter.

She says a breakthrough is needed after almost a decade of scrutiny, review, and incremental reform of the sector but no discernible progress.

Unresolved issues

“The landmark Parliamentary inquiry into salmon farming in 2018 and subsequent reviews highlight that politicians from all parties recognise how important the sector is to Scotland, particularly its rural communities,” she said.

“However, these same reviews also highlight that the original areas of concern - fish welfare, environmental impact, prolonged consultation processes, regulatory delay, and unclear accountability - remain.”

According to Anderson, the May 7 election presents the perfect springboard for change, determining who will govern Scotland in key areas including the economy, rural affairs, and environment.

“What better legacy to the time and focus invested in salmon farming by previous and current governments than for the new administration to translate the insights amassed into practical solutions to the realities faced?”

Collaboration required

But a new government alone won’t bring about the scale of change required, said Anderson. She called for both supporters and opponents of the sector, and those with a neutral view, to embrace a more collaborative approach.

“As wider world events show, digging deeper into entrenched views only exacerbates matters. It’s time to relinquish the old ways of doing and thinking and move forward in a manner that’s as inclusive and respectful of all interests as it is informed by robust science,” said Anderson.

It was Anderson’s belief in the potential of collaboration that prompted her to leave her most recent role as head of sustainability and development at salmon producer Scottish Sea Farms in February to launch consultancy TirMara Advisory to help public and private sectors bridge the gap between ‘what is’ and ‘what could be’.

“Bringing about meaningful change often requires doing things differently, just as I did when I left SEPA to gain a greater understanding of salmon farming. Having achieved what I can within the current framework, I am once again stepping into a different role, keen to help bring about real progress by providing an informed and, just as importantly, independent voice,” Anderson explained.

Integrated change

Ad hoc updates to existing regulation won’t be enough to achieve progress, said Anderson, who gave the example of the recent extension of Scottish marine planning zones from three to 12 nautical miles.

“Yes, the extension widens the geography within which companies are permitted to farm to include deeper-water sites. But without embracing the new technologies and innovations available, it leaves the system itself unchanged, which simply drags long-standing issues further out to sea,” she said.

“What’s needed is a fit-for-purpose, integrated approach to regulating high-intensity food production, with clear accountability and governance – possibly even in the form of a new, dedicated Aquaculture Bill. Why rule anything out at this stage? The issues facing the sector may be long-standing, but they are inherently resolvable if we remain open to the possibility of there being alternative ways of achieving shared goals.

“Who better to lead the charge than a new government with a five-year term ahead of it. It’s genuinely exciting to think of the progress that could be made together in each of the priority areas – and more – by 2031.”