Fish farming

Farmed salmon, Scotland’s leading food export, increased its production by 44 per cent in 2011 over that of 2010 (your report, 5 April).

Most farms forecast further increases in production, employment and capital investment. Salmon farming, approaching increases in production to £1 billion per annum with its contribution to the Scottish economy, is still less than a quarter of Scotch whisky’s contribution. However, there are opportunities for fish farming to overtake whisky production.

There has been overfishing in Far Eastern and other oceans. This has resulted in world consumption of farmed fish exceeding that of wild fish. Scotland’s abundant supply of fresh water is essential for its whisky trade. Similarly, access to clean sea water has been essential for salmon farming. This gives Scotland the potential to become a world leader in the production of most farmed fish species.

MARK PATTINSON

Kishorn

Wester Ross