The Scottish Government

Sorry, Nick, but as a food source "the salmon in the rivers" doesn't work.

In Scotland, it is against the law to buy or sell rod-and-line caught salmon.

Wild Scottish net-caught salmon, fish from estuaries or from the sea, can be sold for human consumption.

However, there are very few netting stations left now, all but two of them having been bought out in the interests of preserving endangered stocks of wild salmon (and sea-trout).

What we do have, however, in the West Highlands and Islands of Scotland, are mass-produced farmed salmon from factory fish farms.

Disease and pollution from these farms, and escapes, is driving West Highland and Island wild fish to the point of extinction.

If consumers - and chefs - must use salmon, then let it be wild fish from a sustainable fishery, such as exists in Alaska.

Nick, i agree with Bruce on this subject,
these farms, and escapes, are driving West Highland and Island wild fish to the point of extinction
Scotland has to wake up to the fact our wild salmon population is on the decreasemainly due to fish farms. Its about time something was done to ensure Scotland and the likes of yourself can take pride in discussing wild river salmon although nhot in the same context as "for sale"

"Disease and pollution from these farms, and escapes, is driving West Highland and Island wild fish to the point of extinction." And lets not forget the knock-on effect to our other wildlife. eg seabirds starving because the natural food sources such as sand eels are hoovered up to feed the farmed Salmon. Sorry Nick, Salmon if off the menu.

Agree with most about what Nick was saying about Scotlands resources in food apart from the salmon in our rivers part

Yes, it is illegal to sell rod caught salmon and sea trout in Scotland. Ironic is it not that this law was introduced by the previous Scottish Executive to help protect stocks while at the same time they protected and helped their salmon farming chums expand and further destroy wild west coast stocks of these same fish? The current Scottish Government is no better, calling for more investment in this environmentally catastrophic business. A green Scotland? Don't make me laugh!

I found myself beleiving what nick was saying, a part from the Wild salmon a fish that is decresing in population.

Henry

We could have had salmon from the rivers once upon a time,sadly,the fish farming industry has put an end to to that.I'm not entirely happy about eating shellfish from waters near to fish farms either :(

1) "Sorry, Nick, but as a food source "the salmon in the rivers" doesn't work. "

2)"What we do have, however, in the West Highlands and Islands of Scotland, are mass-produced farmed salmon from factory fish farms.
"

3) "Disease and pollution from these farms, and escapes, is driving West Highland and Island wild fish to the point of extinction. "

Three very important statements of fact.

And may I humbly add, that, as a very regular visitor to scotland I do not visit in the hope and expectation of being fed farmed salmon.

And I am very much aware that the wild fish resources in scotland are the bedrock of an important segment of the scottish tourism industry of which I am a paying client. Fish farming-in its current form- is killing those resources and thereby that industry.

Thats not good news for anyone.

Also agree with Bruce regarding our native fish and the damage caused by intensive fish farming in areas where they are causing great harm both to native migratory fish stocks as well as other marine species. That includes your beloved shellfish Nick.

Much as I like Salmon and love Scotland it hurts to see comments promoting the use of salmon in cooking as most of it is the result of industrail farming in Scottish waters. Having spent the last 20 years repeatedly holidaying and visiting Scotland the environmental damage condonned by successive governments has to be seen to be believed. I cannot understand why these polluters have not been banned and could just not see such vandalism of the environment being allowed in England or Wales.