Representing Scotland’s salmon-producing companies and the wider supply chain, the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation (SSPO) will be renamed Salmon Scotland from 1 November, 2021.
In a press release, the trade body said the change of identity is intended to reflect its responsibilities and membership for the future.
“This is a logical evolution of our trade body. Our reach and role [are] already wider than just Scotland’s salmon producers. So this subtle but important name change reflects our responsibility to speak for and champion the interests of people, businesses, and companies across Scotland’s salmon sector,” SSPO/Salmon Scotland Chief Executive Tavish Scott said. “There are businesses and companies working in the salmon sector in every part of Scotland – in each parliamentary constituency. So it is essential that we reflect that in our name and our activities.”
A new Salmon Scotland logo will also be introduced as part of the shift.
Scottish farmed salmon is the United Kingdom’s biggest food export by value, generating annual revenues in excess of GBP 600 million (USD 825.7 million, EUR 711.5 million). The sector employs around 2,500 people, including many in remote and rural areas.
According to U.K. data, Scottish producers shipped 50,635 metric tons (MT) of salmon in the first six months of 2021, an increase of 63 percent on the same period of 2020, valued at GBP 303 million (USD 417.1 million, EUR 359.3 million), up 42 percent year-on-year.
The European Union accounted for 33,638 MT of those exports, up 67 percent by volume compared to H1 2020. The value of these exports was up 43 percent to GBP 183.4 million (USD 252.5 million, EUR 217.5 million).
The 16,997 MT of Scottish salmon sent to non-E.U. markets earned GBP 119.6 million (USD 164.7 million, EUR 141.8 million).
