Salmon farmers are calling for £10m-a-year in licence fees to be reinvested in affordable housing in rural Scotland.
Salmon Scotland has launched a campaign to overhaul the current system so that the millions sent to Crown Estate Scotland are instead ring-fenced for coastal areas where farms operate.
New analysis by the trade body shows that average home prices in areas where salmon farms operate have risen more sharply than the national average, while the average time it takes for local councils to provide housing assistance has soared.
While the farm-raised salmon sector is one of the largest private sector employers in many rural parts of north and west Scotland, the shortage of housing is preventing vacancies from being filled.
Scotland’s licensing regime and planned rent rises mean that more than £20m per year is soon expected to be paid by salmon farmers to various regulators and quangos.
At present, salmon farming contributes more than £5m directly to Crown Estate Scotland - or more than a fifth of its revenues - with this fee set to nearly double.
But the Crown Estate's overall revenues are expected to increase from £26m in 2021-22 to £102m in 2022-23, due to ScotWind offshore licensing fees.
Net revenues are currently handed to the Scottish Government and redistributed across the country, however Salmon Scotland believes that a greater share of aquaculture contributions should be ring-fenced to support coastal communities.
A recent independent review of aquaculture regulation in Scotland by Professor Russel Griggs recommended a new single licencing payment for the sector, which he said should “address community benefit as well” – echoing the set-up in Norway.
Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said: “The farm-raised Scottish salmon sector creates jobs and wealth right across Scotland, but we believe our neighbours - the people who live closest to our salmon farms - should be the ones who benefit the most.
“Rather than this money going into a central pot in Edinburgh, seabed rents paid to the Crown Estate should be returned to benefit our coastal communities.
“The most pressing crisis facing our Highland and Island communities is the complete lack of access to available, affordable housing.
“Salmon farmers are embedded in their local communities and want the economic benefit generated by Scotland’s biggest food export to be shared in the local communities where they operate.”
Noemi Lorenzo-Vidaña started work as a seawater health manager and veterinarian at Mowi Scotland earlier in 2022.
She and her partner have searched for months for affordable accommodation near Fort William, without success, so she is currently having to commute from Aberdeen on a weekly basis.
Lorenzo-Vidaña said: “The search has been very discouraging, because it is affecting me not only on a personal level, but also on a professional level.
“It's difficult to be able to put all my energy into work when my situation is so unclear.”
Scott added: “There are a huge number of professional and high-skilled roles in aquaculture, and we need more people to join us in looking after our world-leading salmon.
“But our continued success will rest on ensuring professionals like Noemi are able to live and work in the areas where these vital jobs are found.”
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