Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess has renewed her call for a pause on new salmon farms after a Scottish Government minister admitted salmon mortality is “too high” during an evidence session of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee.
A recently issued research report by the Scottish Government’s Marine Directories states that persistent high levels of fish deaths at salmon farms is not a widespread issue. Around 12 million farmed salmon died prematurely in Scotland last year and Ms Burgess has pointed out the apparent contradiction of that figure against the report. She warns that in her opinion, Scotland’s international reputation is increasingly being damaged as restaurants and hospitality businesses choose not to serve Scottish farmed salmon due to welfare and environmental concerns.
The Scottish Crofting Federation has welcomed progress in the long-running discussion around goose management, following consideration of its petition by the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee.
The petition, originally lodged by SCF in 2013, called for greater attention to the growing impact of geese on agriculture, particularly in crofting areas. It has been revisited by the committee at various points over the years, most recently in 2024.
At its latest meeting this week, the committee discussed the petition in light of the forthcoming National Goose Management Plan. It was agreed that the plan now reflects a stronger recognition of the damage that increasing goose populations can cause to agricultural land and the need for an ongoing management approach. The committee has therefore agreed to close the petition but it will write to NatureScot to ensure that goose management remains under review as the new plan is implemented in the years ahead and it will continue to monitor developments closely.
In the weekend football, Ross County travels to Perth to play Championship leader, St Johnstone. County will be hoping not to lose ground to the teams above it in the league and to maintain its place above bottom club Airdrieonians.
In League One, Inverness Caley Thistle has a home game against Cove Rangers. Caley Thistle is two points clear at the top of the league with a game in hand while Cove is in eighth place.
Both matches kick off at three o’clock tomorrow afternoon.
