Subscribe & stay up-to-date with ASF
A strategy for the sector aims to align it with government targets for cutting emissions, through reducing energy and fresh water use.
It also aims to improve support for west coast communities where it is active.
That includes housing, financial support and installation of electric vehicle charging points for public use.
It plans to widen recruitment diversity and step up staff skills.
The commitments and change of direction is published a day after Tavish Scott, the former Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and minister, began in his role as chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation.
The sector has long faced criticism about the impact it has on sea loch habitats for wildlife, and particularly the impact on wild salmon runs.
Its “sustainability charter” says it will “deliver practical solutions to relocating existing farms, should it be scientifically evidenced as necessary for the conservation of wild salmon”.
The strategy also promises to “develop, with the support of the Scottish government, a wild salmon monitoring programme to provide evidence-based conservation measures”.
Current evidence is strongly contested by critics of the industry’s environmental impact.
The strategy promises to reduce fish escapes, and to improve the strength of pens where more powerful storms threaten to overwhelm them.
It says fish farmers will push for new technologies, on reducing the use of veterinary medicine and to remove fish waste from sea lochs, as well as reducing debris in sea lochs.
On energy use, the industry aims to become net-zero in its emitting of greenhouse gases within the next 25 years, using only renewable energy.
Marine life
Its environmental impact is being tackled in sourcing of fish feed ingredients, to make sure they are sustainable and traceable.
Salmon processors want to move to fully recyclable packaging. That is expected to prove difficult for overseas airfreight, where polystyrene boxes are light and good insulators of chilled products.
The strategy points to work already carried out to:
It adds: “However, we recognise there’s more that can and must be done”.
Ahead of publication, Tavish Scott said: “We already have an incredibly good environmental story to tell with a low carbon footprint, low freshwater use and great feed conversion rates.
“But, by publishing this document today, we declare our commitment to go further and meet even more exacting standards in the years to come.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-54885115