KEY SECTORS

Argyll and Bute’s offer to the world continues to develop and to be promoted to potential new residents, visitors and investors. Inward investment has been attracted to the region due the high quality of life we can offer, the quality of our products, the benefits of our scenic, coastal location with much of the area in close proximity to Scotland’s central belt, our stunning built heritage and our increasingly diverse rural economy with a growing reputation for innovation.

FOOD AND DRINK

Argyll and Bute’s food and drink industry is recognised as having potential for growth and diversification given the region’s pristine natural environment and long standing tradition of whisky distilling

AQUACULTURE

Aquaculture in Argyll is diverse, from the farming of salmon and other finfish species, to the production of mussels and oysters, to the harvesting of seaweed.

Aquaculture is an important component of Argyll and Bute’s coastal economy, encompassing the farming of Atlantic salmon and other finfish, as well as the production of mussels, oysters and other shellfish. The sector is particularly significant to rural and island communities, providing employment and supporting wider supply chains in areas such as transport, engineering, processing, feed supply and marine services.

At a Scottish level, aquaculture generated £468 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) and supported around 2,200 jobs in 2023. In 2024, Scottish salmon farming produced 192,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon, with a production value of more than £1.3 billion.

Argyll and Bute remains one of Scotland’s principal aquaculture areas. In 2025, salmon farms within Argyll and Bute had permitted peak biomass of approximately 42,963 tonnes, representing around 19.7% of the Scottish total. The latest Scottish Government production statistics also confirm the continuing importance of the wider Argyll & Clyde marine area, although production figures for individual local authority areas are combined with neighbouring regions to protect commercial confidentiality.

Shellfish farming is another important part of the sector. Across Scotland, 11,690 tonnes of common mussels were produced in 2024, the highest production level recorded, while the total first-sale value of Scottish farmed shellfish was approximately £14 million.

Seaweed cultivation is an emerging component of Argyll and Bute’s aquaculture economy. The area is a national centre for seaweed research and innovation, with the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) operating two experimental seaweed farms near Oban, including a 30-hectare site at Port a’ Bhuiltin in the Lynn of Lorne. Research focuses on species including sugar kelp, winged kelp, oarweed, dulse and Ulva, alongside the development of cultivation techniques and integrated seaweed and shellfish farming. SAMS Enterprise also operates a commercial seaweed nursery at Dunstaffnage, supplying seeded lines and technical expertise to the developing UK seaweed farming sector. While commercial production in Argyll and Bute remains relatively small and current official statistics do not provide a separate production or economic value for the area, the concentration of research, nursery infrastructure and cultivation expertise provides a strong foundation for future growth.

Taken together, these figures demonstrate the continuing economic and social importance of aquaculture to Argyll and Bute. As a predominantly rural and coastal area, the sector provides year-round employment and contributes to the sustainability of communities, while generating demand for local services, infrastructure, skills and businesses throughout the wider marine economy.

CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

In Argyll and Bute we have a strong cultural identity, rich in the Gaelic language, archaeology, architecture, film and TV music and the visual arts.

Renewables

Argyll and Bute is at the heart of renewable energy development in Scotland by taking full advantage of its unique and significant mix of indigenous renewable resources.

Tourism

Given our outstanding natural and built environment, Argyll and Bute will always have a lot to offer tourists visiting our area.

In Argyll and Bute, tourism is an exceptionally important industry. In 2025, tourism businesses accounted for 15.5% of the area’s business base, while in 2024 tourism supported approximately 6,000 jobs, equivalent to 16.7% of total employment. Tourism generated £264 million in turnover in 2023, with tourism GVA per head of £23,382.

Tourism also makes a significant contribution to the wider local economy and supports many local services, including transport, retail, hospitality and other businesses. In 2024, Argyll and Bute recorded 3.312 million visitor trips and £566 million in visitor spend, according to the Scottish Tourism Economic Activity Monitor (STEAM).

Investment in destination promotion, new leisure facilities, improved infrastructure and business support are just some of the ways in which tourism contributes to local economic development