New survey finds a majority of Scots living local to salmon farms are favourable towards salmon farming

Salmon Scotland commissioned Ipsos to examine attitudes and perceptions of salmon farming among residents living within 10 miles from salmon farms across the five areas of Scotland where these farms are located: Argyll and Bute, Orkney, Shetland, Western Isles, and the north west Highlands.

83% of the public in these areas felt they knew at least a little about salmon farming, including 42% who knew a great deal or a fair amount about it.

Of those who knew at least a little about salmon farming, over half (54%) were favourable towards it, while just over 1 in 5 (23%) held unfavourable views of it. Overall, those in Shetland were more likely than average to hold favourable views, while those in the north west Highlands were more likely than average to hold opposing views.

Among those who supported salmon farms being located in their local area, the main reason for this support was that the farms provide jobs for local people. Among those who opposed this, the main reasons related to concerns about the farms having a damaging impact on the local environment and polluting the sea locally.

Overall the public in these areas found a range of arguments in favour of salmon farms being located locally more convincing than a range of arguments against it. The most compelling arguments in support of salmon farms were that they provide jobs for local people and impact positively on the local economy, while the most convincing arguments against them related to marine pollution and to their potentially damaging impact on the local environment.

Technical note

• Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,000 adults aged 16+ across five local areas of Scotland (200 interviews in each local area). In Argyll and Bute and the north west Highlands, the survey sample included those living within a 10-mile distance from a salmon farm. In Orkney, Shetland, and the Western Isles all postcodes were eligible.
• Interviews were conducted by telephone 1 – 11 February 2022.  
• Data are weighted to the profile of the population across the five local areas by age, gender, and work status.
• Where results do not sum to 100%, this may be due to computer rounding, multiple responses, or the exclusion of “don’t know” categories.