‘Impressive’ growth for Scottish salmon

Scotland’s salmon production increased for the third consecutive year in 2010, according to figures released by the Scottish government on Thursday.

The region yielded 154,164 metric tons of salmon in 2010, up 6.9 percent from 2009 and 19.9 percent from 2009. It’s also the highest total since 2004’s 158,099 metric tons.

Last year, there were 31 companies raising salmon at 104 active sites across Scotland. The industry employed 289,000 people full time and part time, up from 270,000 people in 2009 and 263,000 people in 2009. But productivity dropped from 136,500 fish per person in 2009 to 127,600 in 2010.

“The third successive annual increase in production, a rise in direct employment by around 7 percent and the increase in value is great news for the many rural economies reliant on the sector and the Scottish economy as a whole,” said Scott Landsburgh, CEO of the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organization. “With market demand at home and abroad very high, responsibly farmed, superior salmon represents one of the biggest opportunities for sustainable economic growth in Scotland.”

“Today’s impressive figures show that salmon farming continues to dominate fish production in Scotland, which is unsurprising given that new international markets are opening up, with more people than ever before choosing to include healthy, omega-3 rich salmon in their diet,” added Scottish Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson.

Scotland’s trout production, however, fell 24 percent to 5,139 metric tons in 2010. It’s lowest total since 1998’s 4,913 metric tons.

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