Salmon deaths on fish farms in Scotland nearly doubled last year, according to Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) Scotland. FHI data shows that nearly 15m salmon mortalities were reported by farms in Scotland from January to November 2022, the latest data available, compared with 8.58m in all of 2021 and 5.81m in 2020.

Deaths are caused by growing levels of disease, parasites and jellyfish blooms, official figures show. Campaigners have blamed overcrowding.

Scottish ministers have set out ambitions for output to reach up to 400,000 tonnes a year by 2030. However, pressures have been mounting on the sector, with criticism over heavy use of chemicals and medicines, pollution of the seabed and reliance on harmful deterrent devices to ward off predators like seals.

The Scottish Conservatives warned salmon deaths were “spiralling out of control”. Shadow rural affairs secretary Rachael Hamilton added: “These figures should prompt a robust discussion among all interested stakeholders about the future of the industry going forward”

Tavish Scott, the industry body’s chief executive, said: “Like other farmers we’ve experienced environmental challenges that are beyond our control, particularly since the autumn. We have been open and transparent about the issues we’ve faced and what we’re doing to overcome them.”

Scottish parliament members call for freeze on salmon farm expansion
A coalition of animal welfare groups and members of Scottish Parliament are calling for the salmon farming industry to halt expansion in light of the salmon mortality numbers.

Eight members of the Scottish parliament have written to Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, rural affairs secretary, saying they were “alarmed” to learn of the salmon deaths and called for any expansion of the industry to be paused.

The letter – coordinated by NGOs Animal Equality UK and OneKind – gained support from Scottish Green and Labour MSPs, as well as Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs: Ariane Burgess, Maggie Chapman, Foysol Choudhury, Monica Lennon, Pauline McNeill, Mark Ruskell, Colin Smyth and Mercedes Villalba, and supported by English MP Henry Smith of the Conservative Party and MP Wera Hobhouse of the Liberal Democrat Party.