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SCOTLAND'S Environment Minister, Roseanna Cunningham has welcomed new figures which shows significant growth in the value and output of Scottish farmed salmon.
Speaking after the publication of the 2009 Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2009, she said last night that salmon continues to dominate farmed fish production in Scotland and underpin the growth potential of the sector.
Ms Cunningham maintained: "The increase of 12 per cent in production ( to 144.247 tons) is to be welcomed and reflects the success of 'A Fresh Start' the Scottish Government's Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture. I am pleased to see that Scotland continues to be the largest producer of farmed Atlantic salmon in the EU, producing over 144,000 tonnes in 2009.
"But the real story of this increase is that the value of salmon in 2009 rose by 23 per cent with a new estimated value of £412 million.It indicates that Scottish farmed salmon can be a high quality, high yield product at the heart of an industry that is vital to many rural communities. This growth justifies the efforts both myself and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth have taken together with local authorities to provide a positive regulatory framework for this sector. We believe that the prospects for future growth remain excellent."
She said the continued growth had also brought increased employment opportunities with more than 1,000 people across Scotland employed full-time in the fish farm sector. "The Scottish Government continues to have great confidence in the future of the fish farming sector, and Aquaculture continues to be a growing and increasingly important industry to the Scottish economy, helping to underpin sustainable economic growth in rural and coastal communities in the Highlands and Islands," she added.
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