The Scottish salmon industry’s use of antibiotics fell to a new record low in 2024, according to data released by trade body Salmon Scotland.
Scotland has seen a multi-year trend of reduced antibiotic use since the Covid-19 pandemic, which Salmon Scotland said presented challenges related to keeping fish in the water longer. Total usage across the industry reached 8,850 kilograms of antibiotics in 2021, which dropped sharply to 3,131 kilograms in 2022.
Since the high in 2021, Scotland’s antibiotic use has fallen every year, and according to the trade body, use dropped nearly 80 percent in 2024.
“This is a major milestone for Scottish salmon farmers. Antibiotic use has fallen to the lowest level we have ever recorded,” Salmon Scotland Technical Head Iain Berrill said.
Salmon Scotland said antibiotic usage fell to 5.1 mg per kilogram in 2024, down 79 percent from the 24.8 mg per kilogram used in 2023. On top of that, only 8 percent of salmon farms in Scotland required antibiotic treatment in 2024 – which meant most farms didn’t use any antibiotics at all.
The recent 2024 antibiotic usage figure was based on an estimated Scotland-wide production of 185,207 metric tons (MT) of salmon, stemming from data in the annual marine survey from 2023. Salmon Scotland said the antibiotic usage submission deadline came before the release of the 2024 report, which will be released in October 2025.
“Like any medicine, antibiotics are used responsibly and only when absolutely necessary in the health and welfare interests of our fish,” Berrill said. “These figures also reflect the improvements in fish health and survival across the sector, showing the results of sustained investment in veterinary care, technology and stock management.”
On top of the reduction in antibiotics, the Scottish salmon industry also posted a reduction in mortalities. Survival rates across farms increased to 82.3 percent, up from 72.3 percent in 2023.
Salmon Scotland said the sharp drop in antibiotic use comes on the heels of more than GBP 1 billion (USD 1.34 billion, EUR 1.15 billion) in investment in innovation across veterinary care, technology, and stock management in the country’s salmon aquaculture industry.
Scotland’s salmon exports in 2025 are significantly ahead of 2024, and the industry said it is on track to surpass GBP 1 billion in exports for the first time.
