Wild salmon catches in Scotland are at their lowest level since records began, a trade body has claimed. Fisheries Management Scotland said figures due to be published later will show stocks of the fish are at “crisis point”.
The main salmon farmer in Scottish waters has reported a sharp fall in the tonnage produced last year, much of that due to the problems with sea lice. Mowi's annual report reveals the amount of gutted salmon it produced from Scottish waters fell by 36%.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has predicted that another independence referendum will take place in Scotland. But she said it was reasonable for her to wait for clarity on Brexit before setting out a firm position.
HMS Tamar, the fourth of the Royal Navy’s five cutting-edge new Offshore Patrol Vessels, has been formally named in Glasgow on Thursday. The next-generation River Class ship will boost Britain’s counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling work and provide essential support to defense operations.
Raids have been carried out at several salmon farming sites in Scotland in connection with an EU-wide probe into alleged illegal cartels. Officials visited offices in Shetland, Stirling and Fife amid concerns they may have violated anti-trust rules. The European Commission (EC) has said the investigation is at a preliminary stage.
Exports of Scotch whisky hit a record high last year, according to new figures. Analysis of HMRC data by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) found exports grew 7.8% by value to £4.7bn. The number of bottles exported also reached record levels, growing by 3.6% to 1.28 billion.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Prime Minister Theresa May have met for talks in London after clashing over a second Scottish independence vote. The Downing Street summit was part of what Mrs. May called an “enhanced role” for the Scottish government in Brexit.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is heading to London for Brexit talks with Prime Minister Theresa May. Mrs. May is attempting to build support for her withdrawal plan and is holding talks with opposition parties and the Scottish and Welsh governments.
Brexit has “materially strengthened” the case for Scottish independence, Nicola Sturgeon has said. The First Minister said Scotland’s interests are being “completely ignored and sidelined” and that what has happened in the last two years has reinforced the case for it to leave the UK.
More than a third of vintage Scotch whiskeys tested at a specialist laboratory has been found to be fake, BBC Scotland has learned. Twenty-one out of 55 bottles of rare Scotch were deemed to be outright fakes or whiskeys not distilled in the year declared.