Listen to my conversation with John Aitchison from the Coastal Communities Network Scotland to learn about the devastating effects of salmon farming on the marine environment and coastal communities. Toxic waste, pesticides, diseases and parasites are just the tip of the iceberg.

I knew that salmon farming was bad but I didn’t realise quite how bad it really is. Salmon aquaculture creates massive ecological and welfare issues for the fish. Both farmed fish as well as wild fish populations are negatively affected by open-net aquaculture. And that is even before I mention the impacts the industry has on coastal communities. The massive amounts of toxic waste, misuse of pesticides, diseases and spread of parasites that negatively affect wild salmon are just the tip of the iceberg.

To better understand the issues examined in this episode, I talk with John Aitchison. John is an acclaimed wildlife filmmaker but he is also an environmental activist at the Coastal Communities Network Scotland NGO. During our conversation, we take a closer look at the Scottish salmon farming industry. However, the issues we discuss apply equally to Ireland, Norway or anywhere salmon aquaculture is present.

I am pretty sure that after listening to this episode you won’t buy farmed salmon again, which you shouldn’t, or you will at least take a pause and consider your choices.

Cover image courtesy of Corin Smith - Copyright Corin Smith.

Special guests in this episode: Ireland on the Fly

Subscribe to Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science Newsletter

Support the Podcast and Buy Me a Coffee.

Recommended Books: tommysoutdoors.com/books

Merch: tommysoutdoors.com/shop

Follow Tommy's Outdoors on Bluesky, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook

Mentioned in this episode:

This is the Conservation and Science podcast Replay series, a curated collection of best episodes from last year. If you are new to the show, this is an excellent opportunity to catch up with the most popular episodes from the back catalogue. And if you’re a regular listener, maybe you missed one of those or want to listen to one of them again. Don’t worry! The new episodes are being published on the regular fortnightly schedule, so keep tuning in for the new content every other Tuesday.

Ireland on The Fly

I sit down with Tom and Daire from Ireland on the Fly podcast to explore the intersection of angling, conservation, and environmental storytelling. As fellow podcasters focused on outdoor pursuits and environmental issues, we discuss the challenges of balancing technical fishing content with crucial environmental coverage. The conversation delves into how both our shows strive to bridge divides and foster understanding between different stakeholder groups in environmental debates. From salmon farm escapees to the future of recreational fishing, we examine how podcasting can help tackle complex environmental topics while maintaining audience engagement.

Ireland on the Fly