Fish Farmer December 2021

Sustainability

Steps to a

better future

Assessing a year’s progress since the publication of Scottish Salmon’s Sustainability Charter, A Better Future For Us All

BY SANDY NEIL

S

COTLAND’S salmon sector “stands on the cusp of something truly great,” states the Sco�sh Salmon Sustainability Charter. Hailed as a “groundbreaking” roadmap for Sco�sh salmon, the country’s number-one food export, this ambi�ous document was published a year ago.

The charter sets out the sector’s grand plan to lead the world in providing healthy, tasty, nutri�ous food, produced in the most responsible and sustainable way.

“What began a li�le over 50 years ago as a simple cro�ing sideline has grown into a billion-pound-a-year na�onal success story,” wrote Tavish Sco�, CEO of Salmon Scotland (which at the �me was known as the Sco�sh Salmon Producers Organisa�on, or SSPO).

“Ahead of us stands the opportunity to be a key contributor to Scotland’s target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 – and aid the country’s post-Covid recovery and renewal.”

Salmon Scotland’s Sustainability Charter sets out how the sector intends to realise those benefits, with five key pledges and 41 different ac�ons.

“The charter is just the start,” the charter affirms: “There is much work to be done now to establish a baseline, to put in place short-, medium- and long-term targets, and agree how and when to measure the progress made. But we’re ready to rise to the challenge.”

The charter is divided into five sec�ons covering animal welfare, environment, food, people and community, each with an overarching pledge: • “We will apply the highest standards of animal welfare;

• We will work con�nuously to minimise our impact and ensure a healthy environment; • We will produce healthy, nutri�ous food with full traceability every step of the way; • We will become the sector of choice for people looking to make a posi�ve difference; and • We will be good neighbours in every way, increasing our posi�ve social impact.”

Under each of these broad commitments lie many specific and bold pledges, such as sourcing 100% of fish feed ingredients from sustainable sources with full traceability of all ingredients, and improving pen structures to make sure all fish are prevented from escaping.

So, one year on, what progress has been made? In November, Salmon Scotland published an update on progress.

Protec�ng the environment Following November’s COP26 climate crisis summit in Glasgow, environmental pledges are right at the top of the agenda.

As “ farmers,

everything revolves around good biology

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09/12/2021 15:15:13