Profits down at salmon companies
THE LARGEST salmon farming company active in Shetland recorded an operating loss of nearly £12 million last year – after a making a significant profit in 2024.
Scottish Sea Farms reported a group turnover of £233 million in 2025, which is a decrease of £86 million from 2024.
The operating loss comes in contrast to a profit of more than £40 million in 2024.
Company accounts said the markets for salmon dropped in price due to increased global supply.
It also pointed to a “challenging biological environment” in the fourth quarter of the year.
The company previously said how it had experienced its warmest ever seawater temperatures at its Shetland farms.
It said this helps with fish growth, but “leads to issues with water quality, oxygen levels and the speed of AGD [amoebic gill disease] progression”.
Meanwhile profits have fallen at Cooke Scotland, the other salmon company operating in Shetland.
Its net profit fell by nearly 50 per cent to £6.1 million in 2025, according to an annual report.
Lower salmon prices have been attributed to the drop in profit.
Meanwhile new figures show that salmon production in Scotland increased by 5,836 tonnes, or three per cent, from 192,000 tonnes in 2024 to 197,836 tonnes in 2025.
Shetland is attributed to producing 37,728 tonnes of Atlantic salmon in 2025, with a value of £231.3 million. This is down on figures for 2024.
The Scottish fish farm production survey, released by the Scottish Government, also said that for the “2023 year class” of Atlantic salmon, Shetland recorded the highest survival to harvest rate of the five production areas at 80.4 per cent.
There was also around 300 people employed in Atlantic salmon production in Shetland in 2025.
Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said: “These figures are another vote of confidence in Scottish salmon, with production up by three per cent as our farmers respond to strong demand at home and growing interest in markets around the world.
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“Employment is also up again, underlining the importance of salmon farming to Scotland’s rural and coastal communities. These are high-quality, well-paid jobs which help sustain local economies and enable communities to thrive.
“Our producers are continuing to invest for the future, helping ensure Scotland can meet growing demand at home and overseas while supporting the communities where salmon farming matters most.”
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