Salmon exports leap

THE SCOTTISH salmon industry is celebrating news that exports to the Far East have grown more than 12 times over the past three years.

Government figures show that 8,675 tonnes of farmed salmon were exported to China and its neighbours during the first ten months of last year, more than the whole of the previous year.

The value of sales for the whole year will top £40 million, an increase of well over 1,100 per cent on 2010.

The industry believes there is still room for massive market development in the region, with the growing popularity of salmon in sushi recipes, replacing tuna which is becoming scarcer in the wild.

The industry will attend the Far East’s leading food and retail trade event in Hong Kong in May to further boost sales.

However with the fish farming sector in Shetland already close to capacity growing one third of Scotland’s farmed salmon, the growth potential lies predominantly in secondary processing.

Shetland aquaculture general manager David Sandison pointed out that traditional markets are still on the up, with smoked salmon outselling Christmas pudding during the festive season.

Sandison said the industry is Shetland’s most valuable sector, valued at £140 million and employing around 1,000 people full and part time from salmon cages to processing plants to support services.