Opinion
As others see us
Earlier this year two members of the Senedd, the devolved legislative assembly for Wales, visited Scotland to find out more about its aquaculture sector. Here, they report on their impressions. The overnight sleeper train from Crewe to Fort William is a pleasurable experience in the bleak winter months. On awakening from our slumber, we looked…
Read MoreNew school of thought
Pupils in Stirling are taking part in a trial programme to see how salmon can become a delicious highlight of the school lunch menu. About 18 months ago, my son texted me a picture from school of salmon fillets among the choices on offer for lunch. At first I was delighted, but then I looked…
Read MoreA way forward?
Nick Joy argues that the problems with bureaucracy are deep and endemic. Don’t get me wrong: I think that Professor Griggs’ views are accurate and the work of rebuilding the framework on which our industry is regulated is critical. But where is the win for government in actually doing something? We like to think that…
Read MorePoll position
Despite the critics, the salmon industry is supported by people in local communities, says Hamish Macdonell. Ask anyone who has ever put an opinion poll in the field, and they will tell you that there is always a moment’s hesitation before they give it the go-ahead. That’s because, even if you believe you have a…
Read MoreCounter intelligence
February turned out to be an interesting month in terms of the retail market. Sales of chilled salmon increased by 7.8% year on year in terms of volume. The value of the sales also increased. Yet, at the same time, Tesco announced the closure of more of its meat and fish and hot food counters…
Read MoreBarriers to growth
Scottish salmon is booming – that was certainly the message from the annual export figures last month. Production is up, exports are up and prices are starting to get back to where they were so everything in the Scottish salmon garden is rosy, right? Well, not quite. A key measure of success is not how…
Read MoreTurning a blind eye
Fisheries Management Scotland (FMS) recently posted a news story from the Guardian newspaper about restoring Finland’s river ecosystems, although it doesn’t mention salmon. Earlier in January, FMS posted the news that the River Tay fishing season was to be opened by actors Robson Green and Jim Murray, and at the end of December they posted…
Read MoreAfter the split
It was one of my Salmon Scotland colleagues who put it best: “We have no greater access to Europe than a tilapia farmer from Zimbabwe. We are a third country now and we are being treated as such.” That shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, we knew this was going to happen. We were…
Read MoreStability is what we need now
As I was sitting down to write this, it occurred to me just how nice it would be to go back five years; only five years! Why this popped into my mind was not just Omicron and all its concomitant Valkyries. So much is up in the air at the moment. We could talk about…
Read MoreThe message
It has been three years now since the Scottish salmon sector last held a Christmas reception at Holyrood. In December 2018, dozens of MSPs were there. There were at least four cabinet secretaries, a good smattering of junior ministers as well as special advisers, political editors and columnists, all eating, drinking, laughing and appreciating the…
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