THE value of Atlantic salmon to the Scottish economy passed the £1 billion mark last year, according to new figures. The figure is 37% up on the previous year.

The annual Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey also shows 2017 was a record year for Atlantic salmon production, with almost 190,000 tonnes produced, up 16.5% on 2016. There was also an increase in the production of brown/sea trout last year, although rainbow trout production decreased.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: “It’s very encouraging to see salmon production value on the increase yet again.

“However, this huge Scottish success story is threatened by the UK Government’s Brexit plans, which would remove Scotland from the world’s biggest single market, which is around eight times the size of the UK market alone.”