EXPORTS of Scottish salmon hit their highest ever value after leaping by more than one third last year, figures show.
Overseas sales were worth £600 million in 2017, according to figures released earlier this year by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
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The US is the biggest foreign market, with sales hitting £193m over the year. France followed at £188m, with sales to China worth £69m and Ireland at £34m. At the time the information was released, Scotts Landsburgh, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation, cited “taste, quality and provenance” as key drivers of growth across the US, EU and Asia.
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing agreed, vowing that the Scottish Government would “do all we can to support and protect our food and drink sector” as Brexit looms.
Meanwhile, the country’s booming aquaculture sector – which includes the farming of fish and shellfish – has published its blueprint for continued success.
Under the plan, it could grow to reach an annual value of £3.6 billion by 2030, supporting an additional 9000 jobs.
If achieved, this would see headcount more than double from the current level of around 8500.
But giving evidence before MSPs probing the sector recently, Ewing said this growth would not be supported “at any cost”.
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