Scottish salmon now adds a staggering £760million-a-year to the country’s economy, a new study by Salmon Scotland has revealed.
The report on the farm-raised sector has shown that its economic contribution soared by nearly 20% last year when compared to 2019.
The figures from Salmon Scotland show a direct economic contribution of £303m in Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2021, up nearly a fifth on pre-pandemic levels of £254m in 2019.
The sector also indirectly generated a further £397m in GVA through the supply chain, which supports jobs in every part of Scotland, including the major cities.
There was a further £66m positive impact in employment costs (up 22.2% from £54m), benefitting local communities and companies like accommodation providers and retailers all year round, taking the combined total to £766m.
Salmon farming directly employs more than 2,500 people in fragile, coastal communities in rural Scotland, with a further 10,000 Scottish jobs dependent on the sector.
“Scottish salmon generates vital wealth for the country, and specifically for our islands and Highland coastal communities,” Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said.
“Farm-raised salmon is the economic backbone of some of Scotland’s most isolated areas, creating thousands of local jobs and opportunities. Everyone in the sector is part of a global success story with the highest environmental and welfare standards that puts the best-tasting and healthiest protein product on people’s plates around the world.”
