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Aquaculture

Overview
Research and reinvestment
Scottish marine aquaculture awards

Overview

We continue to work with and promote the aquaculture industry, which in Scotland alone supports more than 6,000 jobs.

Aquaculture is a major employer and one of Scotland's most important exporters. We manage virtually all the seabed around the UK out to the 12nm limit, so fish farming operations require a Crown Estate lease. We manage the seabed, but are not a regulator of and have no statutory function in relation to the fish farming industry.

Aquaculture can be broadly split into three categories:

  • Growing finfish in cages or pens
  • Growing shellfish on the seabed, trestles, suspended on ropes or nets
  • Growing seaweeds.

The bulk of marine aquaculture is in Scotland and is mainly salmon and shellfish, chiefly mussel production. Experimental cultivation of farmed salmon began in 1969 and has since developed into a substantial rural industry, with an estimated 8,000 jobs provided by salmon farming and related support industries, mainly in remote locations where alternative sources of employment are scarce. Virtually all production takes place in the inshore waters of the west coast and the Western and Northern Isles, where the most favourable conditions for aquaculture are to be found. Alternative species, such as cod and halibut, are being grown in commercial quantities and organic farming is also on the increase.

We see further commercial potential in seaweed around Scotland and are exploring this in line with the Scottish Government's draft National Marine Plan through the commissioning of studies to inform a commercial production pilot project. This has included setting up a macro-algae forum to help co-ordinate and disseminate information on our and other macro-algae related work to industry and other key stakeholders.

Last year we invested over £100,000 in research and development including the investigation of cultivation protocols for wrasse and remote detection of jellyfish blooms.

We also continued to work with government to create a detailed and up-to-date web-based overview of the Scottish industry for the general public and stakeholders. Our comprehensive records of both current and historical aquaculture seabed interests are used to assist existing and prospective producers in exploring opportunities for development, and our aquaculture team are in frequent communication with tenants enquiring about such opportunities.

The bi-annual Crown Estate Aquaculture Awards is a well established way of showcasing industry best practice and encouraging innovation to a wider audience.