27/01/2026
Uncovered: Scottish salmon farming industry "accidentally" underreported antibiotic use by 66%.
The industry body Salmon Scotland reported total antibiotic use in 2024 had reached a “record low” of 940 kilograms. But when investigative journalism platform The Ferret questioned the figures, Salmon Scotland stated it had made an “error” and revised the figure to 1,564 kilograms.
The updated figure represents around three supermarket trolleys of medicines entering Scotland’s sea lochs and coastal waters every single week.
This latest admission further undermines the industry’s credibility for providing reliable data to inform policy and regulation. Nick Underdown, our Scotland Director, said: “The public is repeatedly told that salmon farming is the most tightly regulated industry in the world, yet this is not true as key reporting is voluntary and breaches rarely result in meaningful sanctions".
The news hits as the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs & Islands Committee is due to revisit its follow-up inquiry into the salmon farming industry.
🔗 Article linked in comments.
