The economic value of Scottish salmon farming leapt to an all-time high last year as confidence in the sector continues to grow, according to a new report.
Entitled Scottish Salmon Farming – Industry Research Report, the survey highlights the creation of 272 new jobs during 2011, a 23% growth in the total gross pay and a record £47.6 million capital investment. The report also highlights a 22% leap in the expenditure on suppliers and services, rising to £435 million.
Representing 98% of salmon production, the industry body Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation (SSPO) also reports increasing confidence levels in the second annual Salmon Business Confidence Survey.
Scott Landsburgh, chief executive of SSPO, said: “The new economic report shows that salmon farming continues to be an expanding part of our economy, supporting more than 2,124 direct jobs which is a 13% rise on the previous year.
“Direct employment is only part of the picture as there are many more thousands of jobs supported in the supply chain. The expenditure on the immediate suppliers and services to the sector also recorded a massive leap.”
The key findings from the second annual Salmon Business Confidence Survey (SBCS) are:
- 86% of SSPO member companies plan to increase staff over the next five years (an increase from 78% when compared with the previous survey in December 2010)
- 86% of SSPO member companies expressed a desire to grow sustainably over the next five years (an increase from 70% when compared with the previous survey in December 2010)
