The regulation protecting wild salmon from sea lice in Scotland has collapsed, for existing salmon farms. Salmon farming industry appeals against SEPA’s Sea Lice Regulatory Framework have been successful and the environmental permit variations have been dismissed.
SEPA initiated regulation in 2021 which aimed to address the negative impact of farm-derived sea lice on wild salmon and sea trout. In 2024/2025, SEPA sought to implement salmon farming permit variations to regulate sea lice. However, the salmon farming industry appealed in 2025 and the regulatory framework was suspended while the appeals were considered.
On 30 October 2026, the decision was announced: the appeals succeeded and the permit variations quashed, along with SEPA’s current implementation of the Sea Lice Regulatory Framework.
The decision identified significant problems with the way SEPA had introduced the licence variations: that SEPA had failed to follow the required procedures; that SEPA had used the wrong legal process; and that SEPA had not adequately considered specific issues. The legal basis of the regulatory framework has therefore been rejected.
However, two key issues remain unequivocal:
The science is robust: the evidence which confirms that farm-derived sea lice have a negative impact on wild salmon is clear. This was reinforced by the Chief Scientific Adviser Marine in March 2026, who concluded that the science and evidence underpinning SEPAs Sea Lice Regulatory Framework was sound.
The need for regulation is urgent: this was reinforced by the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2026 where implementation of the Wild Salmon Strategy was identified as a priority, including implementation of regulation of sea lice from marine fish farm developments.
The decision on the appeals does not reject the science or the need for regulation.
In light of the decision, it is the position of the Missing Salmon Alliance that Scottish Government and SEPA must:
work with stakeholders to implement interim measures to reduce the impact of sea lice from salmon farms on wild fish. Until interim measures are in place there should be no further expansion of the industry
commit to developing and enforcing strong regulation protecting wild fish
urgently set out a timetable for action to regulate salmon farming to protect Scotland’s iconic wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout.
Members of the Missing Salmon Alliance offer to engage constructively with government and stakeholders on this issue to swiftly develop and implement measures to safeguard wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout.