Fisheries Management Scotland (FMS) has called for strengthened action to protect Scotland’s wild Atlantic salmon after telling the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee that insufficient progress has been made in addressing key risks to wild fish.
FMS provided both written and oral evidence to the Committee as part of its ongoing inquiry of the salmon farming sector and the implementation of previous recommendations.
Fisheries Management Scotland represents Scotland’s District Salmon Fishery Boards, the River Tweed Commission and Rivers and Fisheries Trusts. These organisations support the conservation and management of wild salmon and freshwater fisheries across the country.
Wild Atlantic salmon populations are in documented decline across Scotland and internationally, with many rivers now subject to conservation measures to protect remaining stocks. FMS told MSPs that while salmon face multiple pressures including climate change, habitat pressures and challenges in the marine environment, interactions between salmon farms and migrating wild fish remain an important management issue in some areas.
Dr Alan Wells, Chief Executive of Fisheries Management Scotland, said:
”The Committee sessions have again highlighted the need for effective regulation and management to keep pace with both environmental science and the fragile status of wild salmon.
“Wild Atlantic salmon are an iconic part of Scotland’s natural heritage and support rural communities and economies across the country. With many stocks now in serious decline, it is vital that all activities in their environment operate in a way that safeguards their recovery.
“Wild Atlantic salmon face multiple pressures, many of which are outside immediate management control. However, some risks associated with aquaculture are manageable through effective regulation, prevention and transparent engagement.
“Our priority is to ensure that safeguards are robust and continuous so that already vulnerable wild fish populations are not exposed to avoidable additional pressures.”
In its evidence to the Committee, FMS highlighted several areas where further work is needed to ensure regulatory protections remain effective. These include maintaining comprehensive monitoring of sea lice interactions with wild fish, ensuring safeguards remain in place during ongoing regulatory appeals, and strengthening preventative measures to reduce escapes from salmon farms.
The organisation noted that prolonged legal processes have the potential to create gaps in safeguards if interim mitigation measures are not applied while appeals are resolved.
At the same time, FMS stressed that progress and positive engagement are already taking place within parts of the salmon farming sector.
Examples cited included transparent sea-lice monitoring initiatives, constructive dialogue with local fisheries managers and responsible responses following escape incidents.
Dr Wells said: “Where companies have engaged openly with local fisheries managers and stakeholders it has helped build trust and improve understanding of the issues. We want to see that constructive approach become the norm across the sector.
“We are committed to working constructively with the salmon farming sector, regulators and government to find practical solutions that reduce risks to wild fish while allowing responsible salmon farming to operate.”
Fisheries Management Scotland maintain that improved monitoring, transparent data sharing, consistent reporting of escape events and precautionary farm management in sensitive locations would help strengthen confidence that environmental protections are effective. FMS also highlighted the vital importance of continued oversight of wild and farmed fish interactions as regulatory frameworks evolve.
The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee will reflect on the evidence given as part of its follow-up work examining progress on salmon farming regulation, environmental protection and fish welfare in Scotland’s salmon farming sector.
