Scottish salmon has been celebrated at a St Andrew’s Day reception in Paris with France now accounting for 50% of the value of all salmon exports.
Chief executive of trade body Salmon Scotland Tavish Scott, joined Scottish Rural Affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon and celebrated French sushi chef Hirose Abe at the British Embassy in the French capital for an event with government officials and local media.
The celebration of Scottish food and drink also marked 30 years of Scottish salmon holding the “Label Rouge” quality mark in France, the official recognition by the French authorities of the superior quality of a food or farmed product.
The French market for Scottish salmon has boomed in recent years with exports up from £221 million in 2019 to a record £304m last year – accounting for 50% per cent of the value of all salmon exports.
This is despite Brexit, which has forced exporters to “overcome the new bureaucratic difficulties” to get salmon to market.
Scottish salmon is the UK’s biggest food export, followed by bread and pastries, chocolate, cereals, and cheese.
“France is the largest export destination for Scottish salmon”
Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon
Scotland’s farm-raised salmon sector directly employs more than 2,500 people in the country and supports more than 3,600 suppliers and a further 10,000 indirect jobs.
Ms Gougeon said: “This week as we celebrate all Scotland has to offer on our national holiday, St Andrew’s Day, it is fitting the Scottish salmon success story is high up on the agenda.
“I was pleased to be in Paris to continue the close collaboration between the governments of Scotland and France and to consider ways in which we can support exports of salmon to the EU and France, in particular.
“France is the largest export destination for Scottish salmon and accounts for just over 80% of all Scottish salmon exports to the EU.”
Mr Scott added: “Scotland and France have a long and fruitful history of friendship and collaboration.
“These days Scotland and France collaborate in products and markets and we are proud to be at the heart of this new ‘Auld Alliance gastronomique.’
“Any exporter, whether fish or beef, has had to cope with the UK’s decision to leave the European Union; our businesses have overcome the new bureaucratic difficulties to bring salmon to France as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“It is a testament to their perseverance and determination that Scottish salmon exports to the EU have actually increased since January 2021.
“It has been a tough period but the rise in salmon sales to the EU shows just how important the French and wider European market is for our member export companies.
“I would particularly like to thank the French government and representatives in Edinburgh and London who have helped us overcome these challenges.”
France imported 54,000 tonnes of whole, fresh Scottish salmon in 2021 accounting for 55% of global Scottish salmon exports and 47% of all UK seafood exported to France in 2021.
Lobster is most valuable seafood export to France after Scottish salmon
Exports of fresh, whole Scottish salmon to France were valued at £304m. Another £48m worth of further processed salmon (such as sides, fillets and smoked) was also exported.
After Scottish salmon, the next most valuable seafood export to France in 2021 was lobster (worth £74m) followed by scallops (£63m).