Green Around the Gills

Interferencia: "Salmon Farming - Norwegian company seeks to commercialize in Chile a pesticide banned by the EU for being 'very toxic' to aquatic life"

 

Salmoneras: empresa noruega busca comercializar en Chile pesticida prohibido por la UE por ser "muy tóxico" para la vida acuáticahttps://t.co/Iz5JK0tNeh @InterferenciaCL @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @salmonfarming1 @sernapesca @ECOCEANOS @GreenpeaceCL @Laligadelmar @OceanaChile

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 20, 2021

 

 

The Chilean newspaper Interferencia reported (18 June 2021):

 

 

 

 

Don Staniford, director de la organización Scottish Salmon Watch: “La directora de @marinescotland fue sorprendida haciendo lobby no para el medioambiente marino, sino para el uso de un neonicotinoide peligroso para aguas escocesas” @InterferenciaCL https://t.co/Iz5JK0tNeh

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 21, 2021

 

 

Here's a rough translation via Google:

 

CleanTreat: Salmon Farming

Norwegian company seeks to commercialize in Chile a pesticide banned by the EU for being "very toxic" for aquatic life

Diego Ortiz 06/18/2021

Benchmark came to the country in 2020 to commercialize CleanTreat, a system for treating sea lice in salmon that caused a scandal in Scotland.

Eight days ago, the European Parliament voted against the use of the pesticide imidacloprid in salmon farms, present in CleanTreat, as it has a “devastating” impact on biodiversity. In mid-2020, the medium specialized in the salmon industry, Salmon Expert, announced the arrival in Chile of the area specialized in animal treatments of Benchmark, a Norwegian company of genetic products. However, a year after its arrival, its main technological bet, its star product, CleanTreat -chemicals and water purification and filtration systems- has just suffered a serious blow.

On June 9, the European Parliament chose to vote against setting a maximum residue level for the substance imidacloprid, a pesticide used in CleanTreat's chemical BMK08. By 441 votes in favor and 232 against, the Chamber of the European Union decided to ban the use of the substance in salmon farms. Imidacloprid was listed by Parliament as "dangerous for the environment" and "very toxic to aquatic life, with long-term effects". (Check here the resolution of the European Parliament).

The resolution explains that "there is increasing evidence that the use of imidacloprid has devastating effects on biodiversity, particularly in rivers and waterways, affecting not only crustaceans, mollusks and non-target species (insects), but also also land organisms, in addition to causing a decline in bird populations. ”In addition, they add that its use in Japan“ caused a dramatic collapse of fish populations ”, one that has“ not yet recovered ”.

"The use of imidacloprid has devastating effects on biodiversity, particularly in rivers and waterways, affecting not only crustaceans, mollusks and non-target species (insects), but also land organisms, in addition to causing a decline in bird populations ”, says the European Parliament.

The use of imidacloprid had already been banned in agriculture by the European Union, since it destroys bee populations.

Marketing in Chile and scandal in Scotland

Europe's determination has no effect on the Chilean industry, and the pesticide may be approved in the country. That is Benchmark Animal Health Chile's plan, at least according to the interview given by its general manager, Javier Moya, to Salmon Expert on June 1, 2020, who has already begun to promote the product among salmon farms established in Chile.

"The simplification of the company will accelerate the delivery of much-needed solutions to the market, including its next-generation sea lice treatment, BMK08 and the new CleanTreat system," Moya told the specialized media.

INTERFERENCIA contacted Sernapesca to find out whether or not the use of imidacloprid in Chilean salmon farms has been approved. The entity referred the query to the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), responsible for authorizing or prohibiting the use of these substances.

According to information published by the international Fish Farmer media, BMK08 - which includes the pesticide imidacloprid - is applied to salmon in conjunction with the CleanTreat system, which acts as a purifier removing chemical residues from the water. But any leak could be catastrophic for the ecosystem.

In an interview with the British medium The Guardian, the professor of biology at the University of Sussex, Dave Goulson, explained that the chemicals used in BMK08 "are like novichok but for insects", a nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union cataloged as of the most deadly. "It takes a billionth of a gram to harm aquatic life, so even the smallest traces would have a huge impact on marine life," he said. (Check here the article Banned pesticide accused of killing bees can be approved for fish farms from The Guardian).

Goulson's words were published in the context of a political scandal in Scotland - a salmon-producing country, but not a member of the EU after the UK's Brexit - by a previous article in the investigative outlet The Ferret. Through the publication of emails obtained by the Scottish transparency law, British journalists revealed that the director of the agency in charge of supervising the fisheries, Annabel Turpie, lobbied for the approval of CleanTreat and the use of imidacloprid.

Specifically, The Ferret revealed a series of emails obtained through a transparency law by environmentalist Don Staniford, where Annabel Turpie, director of Marine Scotland - the Scottish government agency in charge of fisheries - explains that “we will help collaborate with SEPA (Environmental Protection Agency Scotland) and MSS (Marine Scotland Science) in CleanTreat technology ”. (Check out The Ferret's research here).

The Scottish regulatory authority emails acknowledging helping CleanTeach mention that such technology will be taken to an existing location "for approval".

According to a later article in The Guardian, in the emails Turpie claims to be "aware that the intention is for CleanTreat to be presented in the second half of the year, assuming regulatory approval", with an "expectation" that Benchmark, the company Norway, which arrived in Chile in 2020 and manufacturer of CleanTreat, will take the system to an existing site “for approval”. Later, the director of Marine Scotland indicated that the company's technology would receive a “welcome consideration”.

In conversation with INTERFERENCIA, Don Staniford, director of the Scottish Salmon Watch organization and who obtained the Turpie emails, described the lobbying exercised by the Scottish government representative as "shameful". "The director of Marine Scotland was caught lobbying not for the marine environment, but for the use of a dangerous neonicotinoid for Scottish waters."

The director of Scottish Salmon Watch and author of the book Silent Spring of the Sea explained that "Norwegian companies have been found guilty of importing the deadly salmon anemia to Chile", so he hopes that the Chilean government "can strongly oppose the use of imidacloprid and send it back to Norway ”.

 

 

Scottish Government labelled 'vergonzoso' ('shameful') in Chilean newspaper @InterferenciaCL over lobbying for deployment of the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in salmon farming @marinescotland https://t.co/8iy8LqJ5da @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @ScottishEPA @MairiMcAllan pic.twitter.com/l1wykhg0Yi

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 21, 2021

 

 

 

"Norwegian company seeks to commercialize in Chile a pesticide banned by the EU for being 'very toxic' for aquatic life" https://t.co/8iy8LqJ5da @InterferenciaCL @WeAreBenchmark @SalmonChileAG @SalmonChile @GreenpeaceCL @ECOCEANOS @sernapesca @FerdOwner @ScottishEPA #Chile #BMK08 pic.twitter.com/7mq9TYhRze

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 21, 2021

 

 

 

La Izquierda reported (19 June 2021):

 

 

 

 

"Norwegian company seeks to commercialize pesticide considered 'devastating' for ecosystems in Chile" @IzquierDiarioUy https://t.co/xu9vVqWCDz@WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @sernapesca @DaveGoulson @GraceOSllvn @Europarl_EN

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 21, 2021

 

 

Here's an English translation of the Interferencia article:

 

 

 

 

 

 

El Ciudadano reported (19 June 2021):

 

 

Dave Goulson explained that Imidacloprid resembles Novichok, a nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union considered to be one of the most deadly that exists. "It takes a billionth of a gram to harm aquatic life" @DaveGoulson @El_Ciudadano @WeAreBenchmark https://t.co/TiEibT4z4M

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 21, 2021

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch notified Scottish Ministers on the newspaper coverage in Chile:

 

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 21, 2021 at 10:12 AM
Subject: "Shameful" Marine Scotland reports Chilean newspaper on use of banned neonicotinoid in Scottish salmon farming
To: <scottish.ministers@gov.scot>, Fergus Ewing <Fergus.Ewing.msp@scottish.parliament.uk>, <Mairi.McAllan.msp@parliament.scot>, Gougeon M (Mairi), MSP <Mairi.Gougeon.msp@parliament.scot>, MSP <Ben.Macpherson.msp@parliament.scot>, Forbes K (Kate), MSP <Kate.Forbes.msp@parliament.scot>, MSP <Roseanna.Cunningham.msp@parliament.scot>, <directormarinescotland@gov.scot>
Cc: <Neil.Purvis@gov.scot>, <Alastair.Mitchell@gov.scot>, Ruskell M (Mark), MSP <Mark.Ruskell.msp@parliament.scot>, Beamish C (Claudia), MSP <Claudia.Beamish.msp@parliament.scot>, EnvironmentClimateChangeandLandReformcommittee <ecclr.committee@parliament.scot>, Mountain E (Edward), MSP <Edward.Mountain.msp@parliament.scot>, Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee <rec.committee@parliament.scot>, Ahearn, Terry <terry.ahearn@sepa.org.uk>, Pollard, Peter <peter.pollard@sepa.org.uk>, Media <publicrelations@sepa.org.uk>

 

Please note that the Chilean newspaper reported on Friday (18 June 2021) on the Scottish Government's support for the use of the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid - dubbed 'Novichok for insects' - in salmon farming in Scotland:

 

Salmoneras: empresa noruega busca comercializar en Chile pesticida prohibido por la UE por ser "muy tóxico" para la vida acuática

 

The article in the newspaper Interferencia includes:

 

Annabel Turpie, directora de Marine Scotland – agencia gubernamental escocesa encargada de las pesqueras– explica que “ayudaremos a colaborar con SEPA (Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Escocia) y MSS (Marine Scotland Science) en la tecnología CleanTreat”.

Turpie asegura estar "consciente de que la intención es que CleanTreat se presente en la segunda mitad del año, asumiendo la aprobación regulatoria", habiendo una “expectativa” de que Benchmark, la empresa noruega que arribó a Chile en 2020 y fabricante de CleanTreat, llevara el sistema a un sitio existente “para su aprobación”. Más adelante, la directora de Marine Scotland indicó que la tecnología de la empresa recibiría una “bienvenida consideración”.

Turpie, catalogó de “vergonzoso” el lobby ejercido por la representante del gobierno escocés. “La directora de Marine Scotland fue sorprendida haciendo lobby no para el medioambiente marino, sino para el uso de un neonicotinoide peligroso para aguas escocesas”.

 

Rough English translation via Interferencia: "Salmon Farming - Norwegian company seeks to commercialize in Chile a pesticide banned by the EU for being 'very toxic' to aquatic life"

 

Scottish Salmon Watch also reported last week (17 June 2021) on how the Norwegian Government's Directorate of Fisheries had supported clinical field trials of D-10 Aquatic Blast (Imidacloprid) at two salmon farms in Norway.  FOI requests filed with various Norwegian Government agencies and salmon farming companies (who are subject to the Environmental Information Act in Norway) cited an email from a Member of the Scottish Parliament (the sender's name was redacted but it is understood to be sent by Fergus Ewing who is seen bullying/lobbying for the use of Imidacloprid in Scottish waters):

 

Read more via Anyone for Norwegian Salmon Marinaded in the Banned Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (don't worry it's ASC-approved)?!

 

Best fishes,

 

Don

 

 

 

Marine Scotland’s director, Annabel Turpie, has backed a treatment system for farmed fish designed to use a pesticide with “potentially devastating consequences for marine life”.https://t.co/kCHxUc4YBC

— The Ferret (@FerretScot) May 21, 2021

 

 

 

Read more via:

• Anyone for Norwegian Salmon Marinaded in the Banned Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (don't worry it's ASC-approved)?!
• "EU deals potential setback to Benchmark’s rollout of new sea lice treatment"
• Fish Farmer: "MEPs condemn new lice treatment: who's right" "
• "EU setback for novel lice treatment"
• Breaking News: Victory in Europe - Parliament votes against the use of the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in farmed salmon!
• Fish Farming Expert: "Novel lice treatment threatened by European Parliament vote"
• Wave of European Opposition to Benchmark's Imidacloprid (BMK08) - the tide turns against neonicotinoids in salmon pharming!
• European Opposition to Neonicotinoid Contamination of Farmed Salmon - is BMK08 (Imidacloprid) dead in the water?
• The Guardian: "‘Novichok for insects’ may be approved for Scottish fish farms"
• Who are the toxic team lurking behind Benchmark's BMK08 (Imidacloprid) in Scottish salmon pharming?
• The Ferret: "Bee-killing pesticide treatment for fish farms backed by Scottish Government"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon - Benchmark's magic trick making the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid disappear!
• Rumsfeldian Fish Philosophy - Things We Know We Know, Things We Now Know We Don't Know & Things We Don't Know We Don't Know About 'Scottish' Salmon!
• SEPA ordered by Commissioner to Disclose 'Commercially Confidential' Information on CleanTreat & BMK08 (Imidacloprid) by 7 June
• Warning: Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming "Clears Another Hurdle" With European MRL
• Warning: Imidacloprid Moves A Step Closer to Commercial Use in Salmon Farming
• Nasty Neonicotinoid Plagues Salmon Farming in 2021
• Toxic Neonicotinoid "Close to Commercial Launch" in Salmon Farming!
• New Science Dogs Approval of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid for Scottish Salmon!
• Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming?
• Secret Salmon - On the Trail of Imidacloprid Use in Scotland!
• British Wildlife: "Neonics in Salmon Farming - Alarm Bells Are Ringing"
• Caveat Chile - toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (BMK08) coming soon!
• Toxic Politics - Meet the Scottish Government's Minister for Sinister Chemicals
• Imidacloprid Licensed for Use by Mowi in Loch Ailort?
• Further Scientific Opposition to Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Patent lifts lid on neonicotinoid use in salmon farming
• Horrible History: Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Scientific Opposition to Neonicotinoid Use in Salmon Farming
• Backgrounder: "Imidacloprid - A Neonicotinoid Insecticide Toxic to Aquatic Life"
• BBC Farming Today on "Neonicotinoids in Salmon Farming"
• Sunday Times: "Outlawed insecticide may be used on Scottish salmon"
• FOI letter on Scientific Concerns re. Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming
• Scottish Greens "Deeply Concerned" at Mowi's Field Trial of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in Loch Ailort
• Letter to the Prince of Wales re. bee-killing Imidacloprid use at royal warrant holder Mowi
• Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid?
• Follow the Salmoney - the Norwegian tobacco billionaire behind the Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid
• ENDS Report: "Calls for greater transparency over ‘toxic’ new fish farm product"
• Letter to SEPA: Please Come Clean on Imidacloprid!
• Letter to Scottish Ministers, SEPA & the VMD re. Imidacloprid
• FOI requests on Imidacloprid to SEPA, VMD & the Scottish Government
• Revealed: Toxic Neonicotinoid Insecticide Used to 'CleanTreat' Lousy Salmon
• Please Come Clean on BMK08!
• Sunday Times: "Official fears revealed over toxic threat of salmon trade"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon
• CleanTreat FOI Disclosures by the Scottish Government to Scottish Salmon Watch
• Media Backgrounder: Chemically Embalmed Scottish Salmon
• All is Not Well With Sick Scottish Salmon

 

 

 

Anyone for Norwegian Salmon Marindaded in Banned Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (don't worry it's ASC-approved)?! https://t.co/fn6TWu9qo4#BMK08 #Ectosan #D10AquaticBlast @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @ASC_aqua
Is toxic Norwegian salmon reaching consumers? @seafoodnorway @REMA1000 pic.twitter.com/BpytMop4U2

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 17, 2021

 

Anyone for Norwegian Salmon Marinaded in the Banned Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (don't worry it's ASC-approved)?!

 

Anyone for Norwegian Salmon Marindaded in Banned Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (don't worry it's ASC-approved)?! https://t.co/fn6TWu9qo4#BMK08 #Ectosan #D10AquaticBlast @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @ASC_aqua
Is toxic Norwegian salmon reaching consumers? @seafoodnorway @REMA1000 pic.twitter.com/BpytMop4U2

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 17, 2021

 

Field trials of the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid - dubbed by Professor Dave Goulson as 'Novichok for insects' - have taken place in Norway since at least 2017 and are ongoing through until 2022 according to clinical trials permits published by the Norwegian Government's Directorate of Fisheries.  iLaks reported in August 2020 (sourced from an article published in the regional newspaper Helgelands Blad):

 

 

 

Here's a Google Translation of the Norwegian article:

 

The iLaks article links readers to a Directorate of Fisheries web-page listing permits for clinical trials - including two involving Salmo Pharma and D-10 Aquatic Blast.

 

 

 

A Norwegian news article published in June 2016 - cited in Scottish Salmon Watch's FOI request of 17 March 2020 to the Norwegian Government - appears to identify companies involved in the first field trials of Imidacloprid in Norway:

 

 

More news on Salmo Pharma can be found online via Kyst (Norwegian Fish Farmer magazine) - including a 2017 article which refers to Imidacloprid and a 2016 article referring to neonicotinoids (including Imidacloprid) and citing D-10 Aquatic Blast:

 

 

 

A video urging investors to support the use of D-10 Aquatic Blast (the active ingredient was not named but it is understood to be Imidacloprid) in salmon farming in New Brunswick, Canada, was published on You Tube in 2014:

 

 

 

Here's a US patent for the use of the neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in salmon farming filed in 2015:

 

 

 

 

Another patent filed in Canada (CA3045239A1) in December 2017 (published in June 2018 & described as a 'National Entry' in May 2019) lifts the lid on how Norwegian-owned Benchmark plans to use the toxic neonicotinoid insecticide Imidacloprid in salmon farming. 

 

 

 

Benchmark's patent for use of the toxic neonicotinoid insecticide Imidacloprid in salmon farming concedes it is a "potentially hazardous agent in the field" & that "leakage" can occur with "loss of agent in the environment" https://t.co/QfeF31RAiM @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner pic.twitter.com/IPjorjqtmO

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 26, 2020

 

 

 

Norwegian-owned Benchmark first unveiled Ectosan in December 2017 (omitting to tell investors or the public that it was Bayer's controversial neonicotinoid Imidacloprid).

 

 

 

In November 2019, Benchmark quietly re-branded Ectosan as BMK08 (still remaining tight lipped as to its secret identity as a banned neonicotinoid). 

 

 

 

 

Fish Farmer reported in February 2020 that field trials of BMK08 (Imidacloprid) had taken place in Norway "over the last 24 months" involving five salmon farms and 35,000 tonnes of farmed salmon.

 

 

 

The article does not say which five salmon farms in Norway have been using 'Novichok for insects' but it known that Mowi Norway applied in February 2019 to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council for an 'interpretation request' on the use of Imidacloprid (then marketed as Ectosan).

 

 

 

Mowi's request to the ASC inadvertently prompted the public revelation in March 2020 that Ectosan (then re-named by Benchmark as BMK08) was in fact Imidacloprid.

 

Campaigners fear that a nicotine pesticide that the fish farming industry and the Scottish Government want to trial in Scotland could threaten marine wildlife.https://t.co/bw5IBgTwqi

— The Ferret (@FerretScot) March 17, 2020

 

 

 

Three days later on 20 March 2020, Benchmark publicly confirmed for the first time that BMK08 was Imidacloprid.

 

 

 

In May 2020, Scottish Salmon Watch revealed that Mowi had lobbied the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in March 2020 to support a field trial of Ectosan (Imidacloprid) in Loch Ailort.

 

Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid? https://t.co/S1ovGqCpu7 FOI reveals proposed 'field trial' of toxic neonicotinoid @MowiScotlandLtd at Ardnish in Loch Ailort @ScottishEPA @WeAreBenchmark @marinescotland @FerdOwner @vmdgovuk #BMK08 pic.twitter.com/iUl9lk7XPv

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 20, 2020

 

 

 

In financial reports to investors Benchmark have failed disclose the fact that BMK08 (first unveiled as Ectosan in December 2017 but rebranded BMK08 in November 2019) was Imidacloprid.  For example, Benchmark's 2020 Annual Report cites BMK08 a total of 40 times but fails to mention Imidacloprid even once:

 

 

 

Benchmark's #2 'Strategic Pillar' detailed in their 2020 Annual Report (p20) is:

 

 

Benchmark's 2020 Annual Report includes as a 'Strategic Priority' (p21):

 

 

 

Benchmark is banking on the use of BMK08 (Imidacloprid) bringing in profits.

 

 

 

Benchmark's 2019 Annual Report includes 30 references to BMK08 but zero references to Imidacloprid or Neonicotinoid:

 

 

 

A trading update by Benchmark in November 2019 claimed that BMK08 (Imidacloprid) had "zero environmental impact":

 

 

 

 

Yet Imidacloprid was banned in 2018 for use in terrestrial agriculture. 

 

 

 

And just last month, Reuters reported that Bayer's appeal on the ban on Imidacloprid was rejected.

 

 

 

And earlier this month, the European Parliament's opposition to the use of Imidacloprid in salmon farming raises serious question marks over the use of 'Novichok for insects' in salmon farming.

 

 

Breaking News: Victory in Europe - @Europarl_EN votes against the use of the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in farmed salmon! @GraceOSllvn @europeangreens https://t.co/GuPl3tj62S
Benchmark’s BMK08 (Imidacloprid) is dead in the water in Europe! @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner pic.twitter.com/s3lZtrCKrw

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 10, 2021

 

 

 

Intrafish reported (13 June 2021):

 

 

 

Fish Farming Expert reported (10 June 2021):

 

 

 

Here's a FOI request filed yesterday (16 June 2021) with the Norwegian Government's Directorate of Fisheries (similar FOI requests were also sent to other Norwegian Government agencies as well as salmon farming companies including Mowi, Leroy, SalMar and Grieg Seafood - read online here):

 

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jun 16, 2021 at 12:36 PM
Subject: Fwd: FOI re. Benchmark's CleanTreat & Ectosan/BMK08/Imidacloprid since 1 January 2016 (Innsynsrett & Miljøinformasjonsloven)
To: Postmottak <postmottak@fiskeridir.no>

Please consider this a formal request for Information and request for environmental information under the relevant Norwegian legislation.

Please provide information on Benchmark's CleanTreat water purification system including field trials and any commercial use of Imidacloprid (marketed as Ectosan in 2017 and then re-named BMK08 in 2019 before being revealed in March 2020 as the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid - prior to 2017 it could have been called D10-Aquatic Blast or another secret trade name) since 1 January 2016.

A FOI request dated 20 March 2020 to various Norwegian Government agencies cited a news report in Fish Farmer magazine in February 2020 detailing how "over the last 24 months, more than 35,000 tonnes of salmon in five Norwegian farms have been treated with BMK08".  Read article in full online via https://www.pressreader.com/uk/fish-farmer/20200211/282488595733006

Please therefore include in your FOI reply any documentation (e.g. emails, letters and other information) relating to the use - via field trials and other methods - of Imidacloprid since 1 January 2016.

Please include any environmental risk assessments, residue studies, ecological surveys, benthic impact research, water quality testing and any other environmental impact information even if heavily redacted. 

Please include any results of field trials, testing, assessment and any other information submitted by Benchmark, Mowi, Leroy and other salmon farming companies.

Please include information on any discussions with the European Medicines Agency, the Scottish Government, Benchmark, Mowi and other salmon farming companies in relation to the use of CleanTreat and Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan - or any other name used by Benchmark or another company) since 1 January 2016. 

Please include any discussions with respect to an MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) of Imidacloprid in the flesh of farmed salmon and the recent European Parliamentary opposition. 

 

This would certainly include the two clinical trials referenced via https://www.fiskeridir.no/Akvakultur/Tildeling-og-tillatelser/Saertillatelser/Forskningstillatelser/Alle-forskningstillatelsene

 

 

The above projects involving D-10 Aquatic Blast (Imidacloprid) were reported in the media in August 2020 via:

https://ilaks.no/vil-prove-ut-forbasert-lusemiddel-i-storskala-forsok-vi-tror-og-haper-pa-positivt-svar/

https://www.hblad.no/2020/nyheter/tjente-25-mill-i-fjor/

 

As context to this FOI request, Scottish Salmon Watch understands that Norway is subject to the legal requirements of FOI and Environmental Information law: https://ojs.imodev.org/index.php/RIGO/article/view/10/71

 

However, last year Scottish Salmon Watch filed a FOI request with the Norwegian Government which was not replied to; namely:

FOI request on Imidacloprid to Norwegian Government & Norwegian Food Safety Authority (17 March 2020)

 

When Scottish Salmon Watch pressed the Norwegian Medicines Agency the response was that the information was "considered to be confidential":

From: Tonje Høy <tonje.hoy@legemiddelverket.no>
Date: Wed, Apr 29, 2020 at 3:58 PM
Subject: SV: Imidacloprid clinical trials approved by Norwegian Medicines Agency?
To: salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>

Dear Mr. Staniford,

Information about clinical trials with veterinary medicinal products, performed by pharmaceutical industry, is considered to be confidential information. According to the Norwegian act on medicinal products §30 the NoMA is not allowed to disclose information that is considered commercially sensitive. We can therefore not disclose whether permission to perform clinical trials with imidacloprid has been granted.

Right of appeal

You can appeal against this decision within 3 weeks after you have received this e-mail. The right to appeal is founded on the Public Administration Act, chapter 6 (VI).

An appeal should be sent to The Norwegian Medicines Authority. If we do not take the appeal into account, the appeal is forwarded to the Ministry of Health and Care Services.

Your appeal can be put forward as an e-mail/letter or using the form found on www.legemiddelverket.no. Choose the English version, and then the link “Appeal against an Administrative decision”. 

Kind regards

Tonje Høy, DVM, PhD
Scientific Director, Veterinary Medicine
Telephone: (+47) 922 80 497
www.noma.no

 

 

However, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency have been forced to disclose "commercially confidential" information on CleanTreat and Imidacloprid (Ectosan/BMK08); namely:

https://donstaniford.typepad.com/files/cleantreat-foi-disclosures-by-the-scottish-government-dec-2019.pdf

https://donstaniford.typepad.com/my-blog/2021/04/sepa-ordered-by-commissioner-to-disclose-commercially-confidential-information-on-cleantreat-bmk08-i.html

https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-19-01398/

https://www.itspublicknowledge.info/202000275.aspx

 

A FOI disclosure by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to Scottish Salmon Watch on 7 June 2021 included:

Minutes of a meeting between Benchmark, the Scottish Government, SEPA and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate in April 2019:

 

Here's another email obtained from SEPA via FOI on 7 June 2021 which references field trials in Norway:

 

 

 

Another email disclosed by SEPA via FOI on 7 June 2021 includes a timeline in relation to the use of CleanTreat with Ectosan (Imidacloprid/BMK08) since permission was granted for the first field trial in Norway in November 2016:

 

 

The above email states that the Norwegian field trials of Imidacloprid "were permitted in Norway with a level of discharge that appears to be above the EQS" [Environmental Quality Standard] which Scottish Salmon Watch suspects may breach EU law. 

In any case, Scottish Salmon Watch is therefore asking for transparency and clarification from the Norwegian Government in relation to Imidacloprid use in salmon farming.

It is known via the trade press in 2016 that Salmo Pharma may have been the Norwegian company first involved in trialling Imidacloprid (perhaps then called D10-Aquatic Blast rather than Ectosan or BMK08): https://www.kyst.no/article/dette-er-det-nye-lusemiddelet-salmo-pharma-skal-teste-ut/

This June 2016 article - cited in Scottish Salmon Watch's FOI request of 17 March 2020 to the Norwegian Government - appears to identify companies involved in the first field trials of Imidacloprid in Norway:

 

 

Intrafish also appeared to report similar information via https://www.intrafish.no/nyheter/soker-to-fou-tillatelser-for-nytt-lusemiddel/1-1-766165

Apologies since I do not speak Norwegian and hence it is difficult to be sure.  Hopefully your FOI reply can clarify things. 

Via an 'Interpretation Request' from February 2019 published by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, we also know that Mowi Norway may have been involved in a field trial of Imidacloprid in Norway: https://www.asc-aqua.org/what-you-can-do/get-certified/variance-request-interpretation-platform/QA0066/

The owners of Scottish Sea Farms (Leroy and SalMar) may also be involved in field trials of Imidacloprid in Norway.  A FOI disclosure by the Scottish Government in May 2021 included:

 

 

The Ferret reported last month (21 May 2021): "We are currently focused on launching our new sea lice solution, BMK08 and CleanTreat, in Norway". 

You should be aware of recent opposition by the European Parliament to the use of Imidacloprid in salmon farming - including specific mention of the lack of transparency:

Breaking News: Victory in Europe - Parliament votes against the use of the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in farmed salmon!

Intrafish reported (13 June 2021): "The commercial launch remains subject to marketing authorization in Norway.  Though Norway is not a member of the EU, it is part of the European Medicines Agency, and follows its approval processes closely"

 

Please provide a receipt/acknowledgment for this FOI request.

Please provide the information electronically. 

If you need clarification please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Takk,

 

Don Staniford

Director, Scottish Salmon Watch

 

 

 

Last month (29 May 2021), Scottish Salmon Watch wrote to the London Stock Exchange and the Financial Conduct Authority:

 

 

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, May 29, 2021 at 12:38 PM
Subject: Misleading financial starements by Benchmark re. BMK08 (Imidacloprid)
To: <newsroom@lseg.com>, <firm.queries@fca.org.uk>
Cc: Rachel Aninakwah <rachel.aninakwah@bmkholdings.com>, <info@benchmarkplc.com>, <benchmark@mhpc.com>

 

Please consider this a formal complaint against Benchmark (copied in here) for misleading statements and the omission of crucial market information regarding BMK08/Ectosan (the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid - described in an article published this week by the Guardian as 'Novichok for insects'). 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch honestly believes that Benchmark is guilty of misrepresentation and non-disclosure in relation to BMK08/Ectosan.  Benchmark has patently failed to inform shareholders, investors, the public, the stock exchange and the media that BMK08/Ectosan is in fact the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid.

 

For example:

 

- Benchmark's main web-page omits to mention the fact that BMK08 is imidacloprid:

https://www.benchmarkplc.com/what-we-do/animal-health/

 

- When Benchmark first marketed Imidacloprid in December 2017 it was hidden behind the trade name Ectosan with the claim that it had "no environmental impact":

https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/full?dockey=1323-13461593-7TRJ6JLUJF6F4SP9S18J8GKP4V

 

- In November 2019, Benchmark re-named Ectosan as BMK08 but still failed to disclose the fact that it was the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid and claiming that it had "zero environmental impact" with regulatory approval expected in late 2020:

https://www.benchmarkplc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Trading-update-presentation-2811-final-1.pdf

 

- On 17 March 2020, Scottish Salmon Watch and The Ferret publicly reported for the first time that BMK08/Ectosan was Imidacloprid:

https://theferret.scot/fish-farm-companies-bee-harming-pesticide/

https://donstaniford.typepad.com/my-blog/2020/03/revealed-toxic-neonicotinoid-insecticide-used-to-cleantreat-lousy-scottish-salmon-.html

 

- On 20 March 2020, Benchmark first disclosed that BMK08 was Imidacloprid (this appears to be the only time and public statement from Benchmark admitting that Ectosan/BMK08 was Imidacloprid):

https://www.benchmarkplc.com/news/bmk08/

 

- Financial updates by Benchmark have failed to disclose the fact that BMK08 is Imidacloprid:

https://www.benchmarkplc.com/investors/regulatory-news-alerts/

 

- Financial reports - quarterly and annual - have failed to mention the fact that BMK08/Ectosan is Imidacloprid:

https://www.benchmarkplc.com/investors/reports-presentations/

 

- A regulatory update by Benchmark in September 2020 failed to disclose the fact that BMK08 is Imidacloprid and claimed that the banned neonicotinoid was "safe to use":

https://polaris.brighterir.com/public/benchmark/news/rns/story/wv8n6qx

 

- A regulatory update by Benchmark in March 2021 failed to disclose BMK08 was Imidacloprid suggesting that the product was environmentally friendly and sustainable:

https://polaris.brighterir.com/public/benchmark/news/rns/story/x2j346w

 

- A regulatory update by Benchmark in April 2021 not only failed to disclose BMK08 as Imidacloprid but wrongly stated that an MRL "has now been ratified under EU law":

https://polaris.brighterir.com/public/benchmark/news/rns/story/xpp72mx

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch therefore questions whether Benchmark has breached any financial reporting and disclosure requirements. 

 

Certainly, Scottish Salmon Watch believes that Benchmark misled the financial market - including the London Stock Exchange - in a press release issued on 16 April 2021 (see enclosed below along with an email to Benchmark).

 

Furthermore, Benchmark has failed to notify investors that Imidacloprid was banned in 2018 and earlier this month had appeal by Bayer knocked back: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-top-court-upholds-eu-ban-bayer-pesticides-linked-harming-bees-2021-05-06/

 

Just yesterday the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety voted in support of a motion objecting to an MRL for the use of Imidacloprid in salmon farming with a vote expected in the European Parliament's plenary next month:

https://donstaniford.typepad.com/my-blog/2021/05/wave-of-european-opposition-to-benchmarks-imidacloprid-bmk08-the-tide-turns-against-neonicotinoids-i.html

 

The motion - led by Grace O'Sullivan MEP - presented the scientific case against Imidacloprid:

https://donstaniford.typepad.com/my-blog/2021/05/european-opposition-to-neonicotinoid-contamination-of-farmed-salmon-is-bmk08-imidacloprid-dead-in-th.html

 

If, as expected, the European Parliament and European Commission outlaw the use of Imidacloprid in salmon farming then the financial impact on Benchmark will be crippling and may blow BMK08 out of the water completely not only in Scotland but also in Norway, Chile and Canada. 

 

It is certainly too early to claim, as Benchmark did last month to investors, that BMK08 had already been "ratified by EU law".   Indeed, it is a very real prospect that BMK08 (Imidacloprid) will be outlawed by the EU and banned for use in salmon farming as it is already for terrestrial agriculture.

 

Meanwhile, Benchmark continues to mislead investors and the media that BMK08 is close to commercial launch (again failing to disclose the alarming fact that BMK08 is the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid and public opposition to neonicotinoids is growing):

https://www.fishfarmingexpert.com/article/new-lice-treatment-now-in-hands-of-regulators/

https://www.fishfarmingexpert.com/article/new-lice-treatment-method-close-to-commercial-launch/

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch has published extensively on this issue and has included information in a blog published today via:

https://donstaniford.typepad.com/my-blog/2021/05/wave-of-european-opposition-to-benchmarks-imidacloprid-bmk08-the-tide-turns-against-neonicotinoids-i.html

 

 

We invite Benchmark - copied in here - to explain why they have misled the financial community and to come clean on their planned use of a banned neonicotinoid which is clearly neither an environmentally friendly option nor a palatable prospect for the public. 

 

Finally, we invite the financial community to investigate whether Benchmark is guilty of non-disclosure and deceptive financial statements.

 

Further information on this controversial and toxic issue is available via:

 

European Opposition to Neonicotinoid Contamination of Farmed Salmon - is BMK08 (Imidacloprid) dead in the water?

The Guardian: "‘Novichok for insects’ may be approved for Scottish fish farms"

Who are the toxic team lurking behind Benchmark's BMK08 (Imidacloprid) in Scottish salmon pharming?

The Ferret: "Bee-killing pesticide treatment for fish farms backed by Scottish Government"

Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon - Benchmark's magic trick making the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid disappear!

Rumsfeldian Fish Philosophy - Things We Know We Know, Things We Now Know We Don't Know & Things We Don't Know We Don't Know About 'Scottish' Salmon!

SEPA ordered by Commissioner to Disclose 'Commercially Confidential' Information on CleanTreat & BMK08 (Imidacloprid) by 7 June

Warning: Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming "Clears Another Hurdle" With European MRL

Warning: Imidacloprid Moves A Step Closer to Commercial Use in Salmon Farming

Nasty Neonicotinoid Plagues Salmon Farming in 2021

Toxic Neonicotinoid "Close to Commercial Launch" in Salmon Farming!

New Science Dogs Approval of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid for Scottish Salmon!

Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming?

Secret Salmon - On the Trail of Imidacloprid Use in Scotland!

British Wildlife: "Neonics in Salmon Farming - Alarm Bells Are Ringing"

Caveat Chile - toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (BMK08) coming soon!

Toxic Politics - Meet the Scottish Government's Minister for Sinister Chemicals

Imidacloprid Licensed for Use by Mowi in Loch Ailort?

Further Scientific Opposition to Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming

Patent lifts lid on neonicotinoid use in salmon farming

Horrible History: Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming

Scientific Opposition to Neonicotinoid Use in Salmon Farming

Backgrounder: "Imidacloprid - A Neonicotinoid Insecticide Toxic to Aquatic Life"

BBC Farming Today on "Neonicotinoids in Salmon Farming"

Sunday Times: "Outlawed insecticide may be used on Scottish salmon"

FOI letter on Scientific Concerns re. Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming

Scottish Greens "Deeply Concerned" at Mowi's Field Trial of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in Loch Ailort

Letter to the Prince of Wales re. bee-killing Imidacloprid use at royal warrant holder Mowi

Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid?

Follow the Salmoney - the Norwegian tobacco billionaire behind the Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid

ENDS Report: "Calls for greater transparency over ‘toxic’ new fish farm product"

Letter to SEPA: Please Come Clean on Imidacloprid!

Letter to Scottish Ministers, SEPA & the VMD re. Imidacloprid

FOI requests on Imidacloprid to SEPA, VMD & the Scottish Government

Revealed: Toxic Neonicotinoid Insecticide Used to 'CleanTreat' Lousy Salmon

Please Come Clean on BMK08!

Sunday Times: "Official fears revealed over toxic threat of salmon trade"

Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon

CleanTreat FOI Disclosures by the Scottish Government to Scottish Salmon Watch

Media Backgrounder: Chemically Embalmed Scottish Salmon

All is Not Well With Sick Scottish Salmon

 

Thanks,

 

Don Staniford

 

Director, Scottish Salmon Watch

 

 

 

Don Staniford of Scottish Salmon Watch said in a complaint: “Benchmark has patently failed to inform shareholders, investors, the public, the stock exchange and the media that BMK08/Ectosan is in fact the banned neonicotinoid imidacloprid” @WeAreBenchmark https://t.co/QdlU7Q8mlR pic.twitter.com/rwC1K7sIdA

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 10, 2021

 

Meet the toxic team behind the use of the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in Scottish salmon pharming! https://t.co/AvF9wXoiNh @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @marinescotland @ScottishEPA @MairiMcAllan @MairiGougeon @GreenerScotland #Imidacloprid #BMK08 #Neonicotinoid #SEPA #Toxic pic.twitter.com/pH4c2aAZre

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 21, 2021

 

Read more via:

• "EU deals potential setback to Benchmark’s rollout of new sea lice treatment"
• Fish Farmer: "MEPs condemn new lice treatment: who's right" "
• "EU setback for novel lice treatment"
• Breaking News: Victory in Europe - Parliament votes against the use of the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in farmed salmon!
• Fish Farming Expert: "Novel lice treatment threatened by European Parliament vote"
• Wave of European Opposition to Benchmark's Imidacloprid (BMK08) - the tide turns against neonicotinoids in salmon pharming!
• European Opposition to Neonicotinoid Contamination of Farmed Salmon - is BMK08 (Imidacloprid) dead in the water?
• The Guardian: "‘Novichok for insects’ may be approved for Scottish fish farms"
• Who are the toxic team lurking behind Benchmark's BMK08 (Imidacloprid) in Scottish salmon pharming?
• The Ferret: "Bee-killing pesticide treatment for fish farms backed by Scottish Government"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon - Benchmark's magic trick making the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid disappear!
• Rumsfeldian Fish Philosophy - Things We Know We Know, Things We Now Know We Don't Know & Things We Don't Know We Don't Know About 'Scottish' Salmon!
• SEPA ordered by Commissioner to Disclose 'Commercially Confidential' Information on CleanTreat & BMK08 (Imidacloprid) by 7 June
• Warning: Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming "Clears Another Hurdle" With European MRL
• Warning: Imidacloprid Moves A Step Closer to Commercial Use in Salmon Farming
• Nasty Neonicotinoid Plagues Salmon Farming in 2021
• Toxic Neonicotinoid "Close to Commercial Launch" in Salmon Farming!
• New Science Dogs Approval of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid for Scottish Salmon!
• Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming?
• Secret Salmon - On the Trail of Imidacloprid Use in Scotland!
• British Wildlife: "Neonics in Salmon Farming - Alarm Bells Are Ringing"
• Caveat Chile - toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (BMK08) coming soon!
• Toxic Politics - Meet the Scottish Government's Minister for Sinister Chemicals
• Imidacloprid Licensed for Use by Mowi in Loch Ailort?
• Further Scientific Opposition to Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Patent lifts lid on neonicotinoid use in salmon farming
• Horrible History: Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Scientific Opposition to Neonicotinoid Use in Salmon Farming
• Backgrounder: "Imidacloprid - A Neonicotinoid Insecticide Toxic to Aquatic Life"
• BBC Farming Today on "Neonicotinoids in Salmon Farming"
• Sunday Times: "Outlawed insecticide may be used on Scottish salmon"
• FOI letter on Scientific Concerns re. Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming
• Scottish Greens "Deeply Concerned" at Mowi's Field Trial of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in Loch Ailort
• Letter to the Prince of Wales re. bee-killing Imidacloprid use at royal warrant holder Mowi
• Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid?
• Follow the Salmoney - the Norwegian tobacco billionaire behind the Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid
• ENDS Report: "Calls for greater transparency over ‘toxic’ new fish farm product"
• Letter to SEPA: Please Come Clean on Imidacloprid!
• Letter to Scottish Ministers, SEPA & the VMD re. Imidacloprid
• FOI requests on Imidacloprid to SEPA, VMD & the Scottish Government
• Revealed: Toxic Neonicotinoid Insecticide Used to 'CleanTreat' Lousy Salmon
• Please Come Clean on BMK08!
• Sunday Times: "Official fears revealed over toxic threat of salmon trade"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon
• CleanTreat FOI Disclosures by the Scottish Government to Scottish Salmon Watch
• Media Backgrounder: Chemically Embalmed Scottish Salmon
• All is Not Well With Sick Scottish Salmon

 

 

Meet the filthy rich Norwegian tobacco billionaire @FerdOwner desperate to 'CleanTreat' parasite-infested pharmed salmon with the toxic neonicotinoid insecticide Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan) @WeAreBenchmark https://t.co/ORQS4EAeDS #Salmoney #Salmonopoly https://t.co/u5aJ4cQ1eS pic.twitter.com/2zh6cxBdeg

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 18, 2020

 

 

"It's the tasty one," said a cigarette ad for Tiedemanns Tobaksfabrik (biggest tobacco company in Norway) @FerdOwner https://t.co/Pv7Npg9mWB "Setting a new standard in environmental care for sea lice bath treatments," claims CleanTreat @WeAreBenchmark #BlowingSmoke #Imidacloprid pic.twitter.com/SE0xCB38FC

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 19, 2020

 

M&S "phase out" Lochmuir fake brand in favour of RSPCA Assured - out of the frying pan into the fire!

 

 

If you're still looking for Lochmuir salmon it's currently listed as "out of stock" on Marks & Spencer's web-site.

 

 

 

M&S "phase out" Lochmuir fake brand in favour of RSPCA Assured - out of the frying pan into the fire!https://t.co/rufoN76EJl @marksandspencer @scotseafarms @LeroySeafood @rspcaassured
Thanks to @feedbackorg & @Ecohustler for campaigning against fake farmed salmon! @SSPOsays pic.twitter.com/UaQKUBAW5x

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 17, 2021

 

 

 

It seems that high-end retailer M&S has finally reached the bottom of the barrel of any last remaining stocks of 'Lochmuir' salmon following pressure from campaign groups.   Feedback reported in December 2019:

 

 

 

 

Where does your salmon come from? #TuesdayThoughts https://t.co/17MQVjZgy8 pic.twitter.com/npEvQEr1cL

— Feedback (@feedbackorg) December 17, 2019

 

 

 

Marks & Spencer Tweeted in December 2019 that "we’re phasing out the Lochmuir brand on all our salmon packs in favour of our Responsible Sourcing pledge to customers".

 

Hi Ewan, we developed the Lochmuir brand in 2006 to recognise our high welfare and environmental standards for salmon. However, we’re phasing out the Lochmuir brand on all our salmon packs in favour of our Responsible Sourcing pledge to customers. 1/2

— M&S (@marksandspencer) December 19, 2019

 

 

We publish all our fish and seafood suppliers on our interactive supplier map, which includes their locations, fishing methods and certification details > https://t.co/IvaIXaNvBQ Thanks, Matt. 2/2

— M&S (@marksandspencer) December 19, 2019

 

 

 

Judging by M&S's labelling of Scottish salmon in May 2021 - the Lochmuir branding has been removed completely in favour of RSPCA Assured - the phasing out of Lochmuir looks more or less complete.  

 

 

 

 

M&S's ad campaign in April 2021 failed to mention Lochmuir and instead focussed on the RSPCA Assured branding.

 

 

 

 

 

It has been long-known that Lochmuir is a fictional place invented by M&S's marketing men.  The Mail On Sunday reported in February 2012:

 

 

 

 

When Scottish Salmon Watch tried to find Lochmuir in June 2019 we struggled even with a map of Scotland.

 

 

 

 

It seems that Lochmuir salmon is now even more difficult to find with the phase out by M&S almost complete.  For example, Lochmuir salmon is listed as "currently unavailable" via Amazon online (as of 18 May 2021):

 

 

 

 

M&S's 'Scottish Lochmuir Salmon Parcels' and 'Scottish Lochmuir Salmon Medallions' are currently "out of stock" too (as of 18 May 2021):

 

 

 

 

Shoppers in Guernsey can buy 'Scottish Lochmuir Salmon Fillets' although the name Lochmuir has been dropped from the packaging:

 

 

 

 

Ocado's M&S Scottish salmon fillets currently in stock are stamped with the RSPCA Assured logo but the Lochmuir name is missing.

 

 

 

When The Ferret reported on welfare problems at salmon farms in August 2018, the Lochmuir branding was prominently displayed on the label (as well as the name of the farm supplying M&S).

 

 

 

When The Sun reported on M&S salmon in September 2019, Lochmuir was named on the front of packaging.

 

 

 

When The Daily Mail featured fishy labelling in June 2013, Lochmuir was front and central of M&S's packaging.

 

 

 

 

When The Daily Mail promoted M&S salmon as boosting people's sex lives and fertility in October 2016, 'Scottish Lochmuir' was prominent on the packaging.

 

 

 

Lochmuir stood out when The Times tested a range of salmon products in November 2016.

 

 

 

 

When The Guardian featured smoked salmon products in December 2015, Lochmuir was proudly named even if the pesky left-wing journalist pointed out that Lochmuir was not a place and was "a brand name invented by M&S".

 

 

 

When Scottish Salmon Watch investigated the labelling of supermarket salmon in 2018 and 2019, the Lochmuir branding was still a key component of M&S's salmon.

 

 

 

 

In 2016, M&S proudly featured the 10-year anniversary of Lochmuir salmon.

 

 

 

In April 2018, M&S described Lochmuir as "iconic" in a written submission to the Scottish Parliament's salmon farming inquiry.

 

 

 

When BBC Countryfile featured a salmon farm in Loch Creran supplying RSPCA Assured Lochmuir salmon to M&S in December 2020 the video footage did not scream out iconic.

 

 

RSPCA claim they "did everything they reasonably could" with respect to welfare abuse @scotseafarms @marksandspencer @SSPOsays in Loch Creran @BBCCountryfile @joe_crowley https://t.co/G4dXeILsTk
Surely it is reasonable to question why @rspcaassured still certify salmon farms? pic.twitter.com/lfVVFa5GE8

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 7, 2020

 

 

 

 

Does Marks & Spencer condone welfare abuse at 'Lochmuir' salmon farms? @marksandspencer Surely your suppliers @scotseafarms should be promoting high welfare standards not cutting corners (& laying off staff)? @LucyWeather @rspcaassured @SSPCA_Mike @SSPCA_Kirsteen @obantimes https://t.co/Wd8fZSTBz7

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 3, 2020

 

How many morts have been removed and how many RSPCA Assured sick fish have been harvested? Have the sick fish been sold as 'Lochmuir' salmon via Marks & Spencer?

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 31, 2020

 

Last month (11 May 2021), a video spoof from Ecohustler and a petition heaped the pressure on M&S. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the petition signed by nearly 80,000 people.

 

 

 

Ecohustler reported in April 2021:

 

 

 

Lochmuir salmon has been controversial since it was launched in a blaze of bad publicity in 2006.  The Sunday Times reported in August 2006:

 

 

 

The Scotsman reported in August 2006:

 

 

 

The Ferret reported in September 2015:

 

 

Scottish Sea Farms, which supplies Lochmuir-branded salmon to Marks & Spencer, has shot the most seals since 2013 https://t.co/X6S6VAdGIc

— The Ferret (@FerretScot) September 2, 2015

 

 

The Independent reported in September 2015:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The slow death of M&S's 'Lochmuir' salmon seems especially pertinent given that it was "pioneered" by Scottish Sea Farms (Norskott Havbruk) in Loch Spelve - where their manager Geoff Kidd was shortlisted for a BBC Food & Farming Award in 2010. 

 

 

 

 

Loch Spelve is the scene of shocking video footage in May 2021 detailing welfare abuse and mass mortalities at RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms (Norskott Havbruk). 

 

 

 

 

The Herald On Sunday reported last month that RSPCA Assured had suspended the M&S supplier (16 May 2021).

 

 

"A Scots salmon farm operated by a firm that is an exclusive supplier to M&S has had its RSPCA Assured status suspended after an investigation was launched into a welfare complaint" https://t.co/7vheeD8g97 @marksandspencer @rspcaassured @scotseafarms @heraldscotland @LeroySeafood

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 16, 2021

 

 

 

The Ferret reported earlier this month (8 June 2021) that Police Scotland were investigating a report from a whistleblower of a seal shot at a salmon farm (revealed by Scottish Salmon Watch to be at Scottish Sea Farms' RSPCA Assured Loch Spelve salmon salmon farm).

 

 

Has the RSPCA kicked @scotseafarms out of @rspcaassured for illegally killing a seal in Loch Spelve on 17 March 2021? https://t.co/SX9fsSONf7 @policescotland @marinescotland @NOAA @RSPCA_official @RSPCAChris @SSPCA_Mike @SSPCA_Kirsteen @RSPCA_PATeam @BenMacpherson @onekindtweet

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 8, 2021

 

 

 

Don Staniford, Director of Scottish Salmon Watch, said:

 

"M&S must be congratulated for dropping their fake Lochmuir branding but surely they should drop farmed salmon altogether?  Rebranding as RSPCA Assured 'responsibly sourced' salmon is like leaping out of the frying pan into the fire.  RSPCA Assured salmon is a welfare nightmare and should be avoided like the proverbial plague.  Consumers have a right to know the awful truth about how factory farmed salmon reach their plates.  M&S is still duping customers by their false claims of high welfare standards and 'responsible' sourcing."

 

 

 

 

Read more via:

• Intrafish: "RSPCA suspends M&S farmed salmon supplier's eco-label for alleged welfare violations"
• Video Scoop: RSPCA Assured Diseased Salmon from M&S
• Herald On Sunday: "Scottish M&S supplier blames seals for salmon wounds as RSPCA Assured status is suspended"
• RSPCA Suspends Spelve Salmon Farm & 'Urgently Investigates' M&S Supplier Scottish Sea Farms!
• RSPCA Sponsored Seal Killing Continues Despite US Ban?
• Secret Filming Exposes RSPCA ‘Abused’ Scottish Salmon - Welfare Complaint Filed Against M&S Supplier Scottish Sea Farms
• Caveat Emptor - M&S's Fake 'Lochmuir' Scottish Salmon (sourced from Norwegian-owned Scottish Sea Farms)

 

 

 

One fake food label bites the dust - but what about 'Woodside Farms', 'Oakham' chicken, 'Birchwood Farm' and 'Ashfield Farms'?! Cm'on supermarkets, you can do better than this! https://t.co/T3KE0sAWfc @Tesco @marksandspencer @AldiUK @LidlGB #GoldenTurnips https://t.co/WHArUywNEn

— Feedback (@feedbackorg) June 17, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

Frederik W. Mowinckel presents Mowi with Alexandra Morton's book 'Not On My Watch' at AGM in Norway

 

 

Mowi presented with Alexandra Morton's 'Not On My Watch' at AGM https://t.co/SJeTHh79hA@ScotlandMowi @MowiCanadaWest
"I told the AGM that I did not think they did nearly enough to protect the environment and that more money should be spent on protecting nature" @FWMowinckel pic.twitter.com/UoiOvZzvsk

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 16, 2021

 

 

 

Alexandra Morton posted on Facebook (9 June 2021):

 

 

 

 

Frederik W. Mowinckel told Scottish Salmon Watch:

"As you know I attended the MOWI AGM in Bergen last week.  With my one share I voted against the suggested payment of dividend.  The chairman allowed me explain why I voted against this.  I told the AGM that I did not think they did nearly enough to protect the environment and that more money should be spent on protecting Nature.  I was the only shareholder attending.  Alexandra asked me to give a copy of her book 'Not on My Watch' to MOWI's chairman Ole-Eirik Lerøy.  After the AGM was finished,  I presented him with copy of her book.  He confirmed that he had not read the book, but promised to do so."  

 

 

Today Frederik W Mowinckel presented my book to #Mowi chairman, Ole-Erik Lerøy at the Mowi AGM in Bergen, Norway. He promised that he would read it...

Thank you Frederik.#norway #salmon #aquaculture #salmonfarms pic.twitter.com/XMQCrIHLId

— alexandramorton (@alex4salmon) June 9, 2021

 

 

 

In 2018, the Mowinckel family (whose name was appropriated by Mowi) raised objections to the renaming of Marine Harvest.

 

 

 

Norway's Financial Times (Dagens Naringsliv) reported (4 December 2018):

 

 

Article in full online here (pay-per-view and in Norwegian)

 

 

 

Here's the newspaper version - download as a PDF online here

 

 

 

E24 reported (5 December 2018):

 

 

 

Frederik W. Mowinckel Tweeted (4 December 2018):

 

NO to MOWI. Members of the Mowinckel family have at the EGM today voted against Marine Harvest’s plans to change its name to MOWI. We do not wish be associated with what we consider an unsustainable way of farming salmon. Completely closed farms is the only way forward.

— Frederik W Mowinckel (@FWMowinckel) December 4, 2018

 

 

 

Frederik W. Mowinckel emailed:

 

 

Intrafish reported in March 2019:

 

 

 

 

Frederick W. Mowinckel is a passionate advocate of wild salmon and has previously spoken out against salmon farming.  The Financial Times reported in 2013:

 

 

 

 

More details on Alexandra Morton's new book 'Not On My Watch' online here

 

 

“I am part of the #resistance movement against #extinction. The movement spans the globe. We are a force of nature. Like a #river, we well up, slip around, bore through and dive under obstacles. We don’t stop.

This is not the time to give up.”https://t.co/B4s9d8lWIt .

— alexandramorton (@alex4salmon) March 29, 2021

 

 

 

Buy a copy of 'Not On My Watch' by Alexandra Morton online here

 

 

 

 

Alexandra Morton: "I try to be strategically nimble so that I can respond to the shape & direction of the wave. I have intentionally kept my voice free from big institutions so the opposition can’t find & cut off my supply line" https://t.co/K324ELx9pb @alex4salmon @PenguinBooks

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 29, 2021

 

Make a Video Pledge to Boycott Farmed Salmon Today!

 

“I have taken farmed salmon completely off the menu. We don’t even have smoked salmon for breakfasts,” says chef James Coffey @IrishTimes @parkkenmare @jamescoffey1 @RelaisChateaux @salmonwatchire https://t.co/i5Y6hy6vLW#SalmonPledge

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 16, 2021

Friends don't let friends eat farmed salmon - please make a video pledge today! https://t.co/4aHyVQVGGA#SalmonPledge #Boycott #Farmed #Salmon pic.twitter.com/cuPmMCXLlW

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 5, 2021

 

 

Salmon Farming is Morally & Environmentally Bankrupt - Please Join the Global Boycott Against Farmed Salmon!https://t.co/8hg5Cc3i3w#SalmonPledge #BoycottFarmedSalmon

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 26, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

Join thousands of people around the world taking the pledge to boycott farmed salmon - take the pledge online here!

 

 

Please take the pledge against farmed salmon! https://t.co/4aHyVQE5i0@TasmanianGreens @envirotas #SalmonPledge pic.twitter.com/W9kTXWF3Dy

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 7, 2020

 

 

Want to end the nightmare of salmon farming? Please join the global boycott against farmed salmon! https://t.co/FpKosacuJq @pamfoundation @seashepherd_uk pic.twitter.com/4whTg61z2n

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 2, 2021

 

 

Make a video pledge - details online here

 

 

Join Philip Lymbery, CEO of Compassion In World Farming & author of 'Farmageddon', in taking the pledge not to eat farmed salmon! https://t.co/4aHyVQVGGA @philip_ciwf @CIWF_EU @media_ciwf @onekindtweet @rspcaassured @SSPCA_Mike @SSPCA_Kirsteen @LynneUSneddon @Animallawyersuk pic.twitter.com/71XmOo9zAt

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 9, 2020

 

 

 

Find out more reasons to boycott farmed salmon online here

 

 

 

Read more via:

RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon is a Welfare Nightmare - Don't Fall for the Scam!

Joanna Blythman in The Herald: "Why I can no longer stomach Scottish farmed salmon"

Take the Salmon Pledge - please join the boycott against farmed salmon!

Salmon Pledge Goes Wild Around the World! 

5 shocking reasons not to buy farmed salmon 

25 Reasons to Boycott Scottish Salmon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Download the pledge postcard, stickers and other graphics online here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farmed Salmon? No Thanks! https://t.co/srvE2G4DEs
Proudly display your opposition to salmon farming - take the salmon pledge today! #Boycott #Farmed #Salmon pic.twitter.com/9QnqGQMJ4V

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 5, 2021

 

 

 

Get that crap out of your kitchen! Please take the pledge to boycott farmed salmon - even so-called 'organic' @GordonRamsay @SoilAssocScot @SoilAssociation @glenarmsalmon @Naturland_eV @JoannaBlythman @peterk69 @HelenBOrganic @LawWoodward https://t.co/FpKosacuJq #SalmonPledge pic.twitter.com/Y4jF2KPnVZ

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 6, 2021

 

 

"Anyone visiting the four museums when they reopen will notice that farmed salmon has been banished entirely from its cafes and restaurants" @Tate https://t.co/bVjSq41j8M @MSNBC @CookingSections
Please join the global boycott against farmed salmon!

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 6, 2021

 

 

 

Please take the pledge to boycott pharmed salmon #Salmon #Pledge https://t.co/FpKosacuJq
Say no to drugs, say no to salmon pharming!@WeAreBenchmark @SSPOsays @Bayer
Cartoon from Adrian Raeside @araeside https://t.co/PGT2GHb12i @bettyfordcenter @hazldnbettyford @vmdgovuk pic.twitter.com/i5POTq7RJs

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 23, 2021

 

The Art of Synthetic Salmon - BBC Food Programme on Tate Modern's Boycott of Artificially Coloured Pharmed Fish!

 

#TurnerPrize nominated @CookingSections
talk to me all about their art installation currently at @Tate #Britain causing a bit of a storm, Salmon: A Red Herring

Tune in @BBCRadio4 in about 3 minutes!! @BBCFoodProg pic.twitter.com/44wHCUTvmN

— Jaega Wise (@jaegawise) June 13, 2021

 

Listen to the BBC Food Programme's expose of artificial colourings in Scottish 'pharmed' salmon online here via BBC iPlayer (starts at 16 mins 58 secs - available for over a year)

 

 

 

 

For those without access to BBC iPlayer the fishy feature can be listened to online here

 

 

Listen to the BBC Food Programme expose how pharmed salmon is artificially coloured & how Tate Britain is boycotting Scottish salmon with a fake tan@Tate @CookingSections @BBCFoodProg @SSPOsays @jaegawise @BBCSounds @NatTylerDigital @DSM @Roche https://t.co/S2iEx5qnr6 pic.twitter.com/c7hSd5bW04

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 15, 2021

 

 

Visit Tate Britain and see the Cooking Sections art exhibit for yourself ('Salmon - A Red Herring' exhibition on until 31 August):

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Color exposes the global entrails of agribusiness and petro-chemical industries that feed, fill and taint bodies.”@CookingSections @hyperallergic https://t.co/8SAMxQU6Vi

— isolarii (@_isolarii_) June 12, 2021

 

The Guardian reported in April 2021:

 

 

If you like salmon, don't read this: the art duo exposing a booming £1bn market https://t.co/pweB5f0erP @guardian @Ecohustler @FWMowinckel @DSM @Roche @rspcaassured @ciwf

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 4, 2021

 

"If all this weren’t enough to make you think again about what you’re cooking for dinner, Schwabe and Pascual discovered that industrial fish farmers use a special colour swatch called the SalmoFan to customise their product" https://t.co/pweB5f0erP @DSM @Roche @CookingSections pic.twitter.com/OifjcRKCXv

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 5, 2021

 

 

 

The issue of fake farmed salmon is featured in Netflix's hit documentary 'Seaspiracy'.

 

 

 

"Farmed salmon without colourants being added to its feed would be completely grey," said Corin Smith of Inside Scottish Salmon Feedlots.  "To the extent that salmon farmers can acutally select from a colour chart - much like you get when you're painting your house - you can select the pinkness of the salmon that you're going to produce.   So it wouldn't be for me to say but it does seem like people are eating grey fish which has been painted pink."

 

 

 

 

 

Chris Packham & Megan McCubbin raised the issue in their new book 'Back to Nature' published in December 2020.

 

 

"Without the addition of artificial colouring such as Canthaxanthin, 'pharmed' salmon would be a greasy grey in colour - not so appealing - so it's essentially given a fake tan" write @ChrisGPackham & @MeganMcCubbin in Back to Nature https://t.co/XUcA8JtqeT@DSM @Roche @SSPOsays pic.twitter.com/gy2gxPhJwy

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 15, 2020

 

 

 

The Guardian reported back in 2003:

 

 

 

"The color of the salmon flesh of is measured with the SalmoFan Roche" says @SaumonLabel "Coloring: 26 minimum on the SalmoFan" demands 'Label Rouge' @SSPOsays https://t.co/VLfQDbl6hA
So why is Tavish Scott so colour blind? @tavishscott @DSM @Roche @ScotlandMowi @scotseafarms pic.twitter.com/J8T5DJNTNl

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 7, 2021

 

 

 

 

Read more via:

Lying err I mean Lobbying for 'Scottish' Salmon!

Salmon With a Fake Tan - Please Boycott Pharmed Fish!

Red Alert for Label Rouge - Lousy Label Goes Rogue

Ugly in Pink: Cosmetically Challenged Farmed Salmon!

Silent Spring of the Sea

 

 

Fancy putting lipstick on a toxic, diseased & 99% foreign-owned 'Scottish' salmon? Then hurry up and apply for the new job as Head of Communications at Scottish Salmon! https://t.co/thprDnE7JX @HamishMacdonell @AthollDuncan @tavishscott @SSPOsays @NatTylerDigital @ScotlandMowi pic.twitter.com/VgaQWxL5j2

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 21, 2021

The Oban Times: "Seal scarer devices may harm harbour porpoise"

 

Marine scientists in Oban have found noise from devices used to stop seals eating farmed fish & damaging nets, may unintentionally harm other species like harbour porpoises @obantimes https://t.co/8ecXRPivqs @chazz_findlay @denrisch @SSPOsays @HWDT_org @dolmansarahj @MairiMcAllan pic.twitter.com/2Y1xXQLZxA

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 15, 2021

 

 

 

The Oban Times reported (14 June 2021):

 

 

 

Listen to BBC Radio Scotland (9 June 2021):

 

 

Also anyone interested listening to me on BBC Radio Scotland Highlands and Islands this morning here's the link: https://t.co/JhQh03yrMn

— Charlotte Findlay (@chazz_findlay) June 9, 2021

 

 

 

Read more via:

• "Five out of the six top farms in Scotland" use GenusWave's 'Acoustic Startle Technology' - But is it MMPA compliant & does it comply with EU law?
• "Scientists sound warning over next-gen seal scarers"
• Journal of Applied Ecology: "Auditory impairment from acoustic seal deterrents predicted for harbour porpoises in a marine protected area"
• Fish Farmer: "Seal scarers could harm porpoises, study finds"
• Parliamentary Report: "ADD Use in the Aquaculture Sector"
• Scientific Study into Impact of Low Frequency ADDs Silenced!
• Pulling the Plug on ADD on salmon farms - is turning down the volume enough to comply with the law?
• Sunday Times: "Animal welfare campaigners sound out ban on acoustic seal deterrent"
• Mail On Sunday: "Salmon farmers are 'torturing' porpoises and dolphins with high-pitched noises to protect their stock, campaigners warn"
• Unlicensed use of ADDs in aquaculture is contrary to European Protected Species legislation & completely immoral!
• Daily Record: "Whales and dolphins being 'tortured' by anti-seal scare devices at Scottish fish farms"
• The Guardian: "Scottish salmon farmers to be banned from shooting seals"
• Caught Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea
• The Ferret: "Seal scarers used by fish farms branded 'sonic torture'"
• GenusWave 'Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology' - in compliance with the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act??
• Seal shooting at salmon farms doubles before ban
• Ban on seal shooting must be watertight
• Greens want ban on seal scarers
• BBC Countryfile on ADDs impacting on cetaceans
• Sounding Off On Salmon Farms - Acoustic Deterrent Devices evade Marine Noise Registry
• SARF report 112: "Influences of lower-frequency Acoustic Deterrent Devices (ADDs) on cetaceans in Scottish coastal waters"
• The Times: "Noisy fish farms ‘harm other marine life’"
• Mapping widespread and increasing underwater noise pollution from acoustic deterrent devices
• Sounding Off About Scotland's Noisy Salmon Farms - Turn Off Acoustic Deterrent Devices to Protect Cetaceans
• Deafening Impact of Salmon Farms on Cetaceans
• The National: "Warning salmon farm devices could hit wildlife tourism"
• Turning Down the Volume on Salmon Farms is Not Enough: 'Cetacean Friendly' Acoustic Deterrent Devices Still Harm & Must Be Banned 
• Cetaceans Sound Alarm On Salmon Farms - new research sparks EC complaint & call to ban Acoustic Deterrent Devices
• Sunday Herald: "Health of whales, dolphins and porpoises put at risk by underwater alarms"
• Noisy Salmon Farms - Switch Off Acoustic Deterrent Devices Now!

 

 

 

"Five out of the six top farms in Scotland" use GenusWave's 'Acoustic Startle Technology' - but is it MMPA compliant & does it comply with EU law?https://t.co/Mnc3yvlWby @NOAA @marinescotland @MairiMcAllan @MairiGougeon @SSPOsays @chazz_findlay @denrisch @SAMSoceannews @EU_ENV pic.twitter.com/PIcWYW6DXI

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 9, 2021

 

"EU deals potential setback to Benchmark’s rollout of new sea lice treatment"

 

EU deals potential setback to Benchmark’s rollout of new sea lice treatment @IntraFishNorge @DW_intrafish
"O’Sullivan argued that the risks to the environment of using imidacloprid - recently dubbed the novichok for insects - outweigh the benefits"https://t.co/0J6L0a0YgH pic.twitter.com/J4XqhkYNm4

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 14, 2021

 

Intrafish reported (13 June 2021):

 

 

 

 

 

Intrafish reported (1 March 2021):

 

 

 

 

 

Read more via:

• Fish Farmer: "MEPs condemn new lice treatment: who's right" "
• "EU setback for novel lice treatment"
• Breaking News: Victory in Europe - Parliament votes against the use of the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in farmed salmon!
• Fish Farming Expert: "Novel lice treatment threatened by European Parliament vote"
• Wave of European Opposition to Benchmark's Imidacloprid (BMK08) - the tide turns against neonicotinoids in salmon pharming!
• European Opposition to Neonicotinoid Contamination of Farmed Salmon - is BMK08 (Imidacloprid) dead in the water?
• The Guardian: "‘Novichok for insects’ may be approved for Scottish fish farms"
• Who are the toxic team lurking behind Benchmark's BMK08 (Imidacloprid) in Scottish salmon pharming?
• The Ferret: "Bee-killing pesticide treatment for fish farms backed by Scottish Government"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon - Benchmark's magic trick making the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid disappear!
• Rumsfeldian Fish Philosophy - Things We Know We Know, Things We Now Know We Don't Know & Things We Don't Know We Don't Know About 'Scottish' Salmon!
• SEPA ordered by Commissioner to Disclose 'Commercially Confidential' Information on CleanTreat & BMK08 (Imidacloprid) by 7 June
• Warning: Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming "Clears Another Hurdle" With European MRL
• Warning: Imidacloprid Moves A Step Closer to Commercial Use in Salmon Farming
• Nasty Neonicotinoid Plagues Salmon Farming in 2021
• Toxic Neonicotinoid "Close to Commercial Launch" in Salmon Farming!
• New Science Dogs Approval of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid for Scottish Salmon!
• Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming?
• Secret Salmon - On the Trail of Imidacloprid Use in Scotland!
• British Wildlife: "Neonics in Salmon Farming - Alarm Bells Are Ringing"
• Caveat Chile - toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (BMK08) coming soon!
• Toxic Politics - Meet the Scottish Government's Minister for Sinister Chemicals
• Imidacloprid Licensed for Use by Mowi in Loch Ailort?
• Further Scientific Opposition to Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Patent lifts lid on neonicotinoid use in salmon farming
• Horrible History: Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Scientific Opposition to Neonicotinoid Use in Salmon Farming
• Backgrounder: "Imidacloprid - A Neonicotinoid Insecticide Toxic to Aquatic Life"
• BBC Farming Today on "Neonicotinoids in Salmon Farming"
• Sunday Times: "Outlawed insecticide may be used on Scottish salmon"
• FOI letter on Scientific Concerns re. Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming
• Scottish Greens "Deeply Concerned" at Mowi's Field Trial of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in Loch Ailort
• Letter to the Prince of Wales re. bee-killing Imidacloprid use at royal warrant holder Mowi
• Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid?
• Follow the Salmoney - the Norwegian tobacco billionaire behind the Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid
• ENDS Report: "Calls for greater transparency over ‘toxic’ new fish farm product"
• Letter to SEPA: Please Come Clean on Imidacloprid!
• Letter to Scottish Ministers, SEPA & the VMD re. Imidacloprid
• FOI requests on Imidacloprid to SEPA, VMD & the Scottish Government
• Revealed: Toxic Neonicotinoid Insecticide Used to 'CleanTreat' Lousy Salmon
• Please Come Clean on BMK08!
• Sunday Times: "Official fears revealed over toxic threat of salmon trade"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon
• CleanTreat FOI Disclosures by the Scottish Government to Scottish Salmon Watch
• Media Backgrounder: Chemically Embalmed Scottish Salmon
• All is Not Well With Sick Scottish Salmon

 

 

 

Not very https://t.co/2S4E8MtI4n

— PAN UK (@PAN_UK) June 14, 2021

 

Fish Farmer: "MEPs condemn new lice treatment: who's right"

 

Don Staniford of Scottish Salmon Watch said in a complaint: “Benchmark has patently failed to inform shareholders, investors, the public, the stock exchange and the media that BMK08/Ectosan is in fact the banned neonicotinoid imidacloprid” @WeAreBenchmark https://t.co/QdlU7Q8mlR pic.twitter.com/rwC1K7sIdA

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 10, 2021

 

Fish Farmer reported (10 June 2021):

 

 

 

The vote does place the Commission under political pressure to comply, however, or at least to revisit its policy on the issue @WeAreBenchmark @EU_Commission @europeangreens @GraceOSllvn @ZoeZebedee @EU_ENV @EMA_News @FerdOwner @ScottishEPA #Imidacloprid https://t.co/QdlU7Q8mlR

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 10, 2021

 

 

 

Here's the Fish Farmer magazine version as published in the June 2021 issue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"How clean is CleanTreat?" asks Fish Farmer magazine's June issue @fishfarmermag https://t.co/TqKxwFuDxL
Clue to the answer: the 'water purification' system uses the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid which peer-reviewed science shows is lethal to marine life! @WeAreBenchmark pic.twitter.com/9B2wiYlHZj

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 14, 2021

 

 

 

Read more via:

• "EU setback for novel lice treatment"
• Breaking News: Victory in Europe - Parliament votes against the use of the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in farmed salmon!
• Fish Farming Expert: "Novel lice treatment threatened by European Parliament vote"
• Wave of European Opposition to Benchmark's Imidacloprid (BMK08) - the tide turns against neonicotinoids in salmon pharming!
• European Opposition to Neonicotinoid Contamination of Farmed Salmon - is BMK08 (Imidacloprid) dead in the water?
• The Guardian: "‘Novichok for insects’ may be approved for Scottish fish farms"
• Who are the toxic team lurking behind Benchmark's BMK08 (Imidacloprid) in Scottish salmon pharming?
• The Ferret: "Bee-killing pesticide treatment for fish farms backed by Scottish Government"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon - Benchmark's magic trick making the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid disappear!
• Rumsfeldian Fish Philosophy - Things We Know We Know, Things We Now Know We Don't Know & Things We Don't Know We Don't Know About 'Scottish' Salmon!
• SEPA ordered by Commissioner to Disclose 'Commercially Confidential' Information on CleanTreat & BMK08 (Imidacloprid) by 7 June
• Warning: Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming "Clears Another Hurdle" With European MRL
• Warning: Imidacloprid Moves A Step Closer to Commercial Use in Salmon Farming
• Nasty Neonicotinoid Plagues Salmon Farming in 2021
• Toxic Neonicotinoid "Close to Commercial Launch" in Salmon Farming!
• New Science Dogs Approval of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid for Scottish Salmon!
• Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming?
• Secret Salmon - On the Trail of Imidacloprid Use in Scotland!
• British Wildlife: "Neonics in Salmon Farming - Alarm Bells Are Ringing"
• Caveat Chile - toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (BMK08) coming soon!
• Toxic Politics - Meet the Scottish Government's Minister for Sinister Chemicals
• Imidacloprid Licensed for Use by Mowi in Loch Ailort?
• Further Scientific Opposition to Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Patent lifts lid on neonicotinoid use in salmon farming
• Horrible History: Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Scientific Opposition to Neonicotinoid Use in Salmon Farming
• Backgrounder: "Imidacloprid - A Neonicotinoid Insecticide Toxic to Aquatic Life"
• BBC Farming Today on "Neonicotinoids in Salmon Farming"
• Sunday Times: "Outlawed insecticide may be used on Scottish salmon"
• FOI letter on Scientific Concerns re. Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming
• Scottish Greens "Deeply Concerned" at Mowi's Field Trial of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in Loch Ailort
• Letter to the Prince of Wales re. bee-killing Imidacloprid use at royal warrant holder Mowi
• Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid?
• Follow the Salmoney - the Norwegian tobacco billionaire behind the Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid
• ENDS Report: "Calls for greater transparency over ‘toxic’ new fish farm product"
• Letter to SEPA: Please Come Clean on Imidacloprid!
• Letter to Scottish Ministers, SEPA & the VMD re. Imidacloprid
• FOI requests on Imidacloprid to SEPA, VMD & the Scottish Government
• Revealed: Toxic Neonicotinoid Insecticide Used to 'CleanTreat' Lousy Salmon
• Please Come Clean on BMK08!
• Sunday Times: "Official fears revealed over toxic threat of salmon trade"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon
• CleanTreat FOI Disclosures by the Scottish Government to Scottish Salmon Watch
• Media Backgrounder: Chemically Embalmed Scottish Salmon
• All is Not Well With Sick Scottish Salmon

"EU setback for novel lice treatment"

 

Anti-salmon farming activist Don Staniford said the EU’s opposition to imidacloprid “effectively kills any use of BMK08 by companies such as Mowi in Scotland as Europe is such a key market for Scottish salmon” @salmonfarming1 @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner https://t.co/VFynHTLqY1

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 10, 2021

 

 

 

Fish Farming Expert reported (10 June 2021):

 

 

 

Fish Farming Expert reported in April 2021:

 

 

 

 

Fish Farming Expert reported in March 2021:

 

 

 

Fish Farming Expert reported in February 2021:

 

 

 

Fish Farming Expert reported in September 2020:

 

 

 

Fish Farming Expert reported in May 2020:

 

 

 

Fish Farming Expert reported in March 2020:

 

 

 

Fish Farming Expert reported in February 2020:

 

 

 

 

Fish Farming Expert reported in October 2018:

 

 

 

Fish Farming Expert reported in December 2017:

 

 

 

Read more via:

• Breaking News: Victory in Europe - Parliament votes against the use of the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in farmed salmon!
• Fish Farming Expert: "Novel lice treatment threatened by European Parliament vote"
• Wave of European Opposition to Benchmark's Imidacloprid (BMK08) - the tide turns against neonicotinoids in salmon pharming!
• European Opposition to Neonicotinoid Contamination of Farmed Salmon - is BMK08 (Imidacloprid) dead in the water?
• The Guardian: "‘Novichok for insects’ may be approved for Scottish fish farms"
• Who are the toxic team lurking behind Benchmark's BMK08 (Imidacloprid) in Scottish salmon pharming?
• The Ferret: "Bee-killing pesticide treatment for fish farms backed by Scottish Government"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon - Benchmark's magic trick making the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid disappear!
• Rumsfeldian Fish Philosophy - Things We Know We Know, Things We Now Know We Don't Know & Things We Don't Know We Don't Know About 'Scottish' Salmon!
• SEPA ordered by Commissioner to Disclose 'Commercially Confidential' Information on CleanTreat & BMK08 (Imidacloprid) by 7 June
• Warning: Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming "Clears Another Hurdle" With European MRL
• Warning: Imidacloprid Moves A Step Closer to Commercial Use in Salmon Farming
• Nasty Neonicotinoid Plagues Salmon Farming in 2021
• Toxic Neonicotinoid "Close to Commercial Launch" in Salmon Farming!
• New Science Dogs Approval of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid for Scottish Salmon!
• Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming?
• Secret Salmon - On the Trail of Imidacloprid Use in Scotland!
• British Wildlife: "Neonics in Salmon Farming - Alarm Bells Are Ringing"
• Caveat Chile - toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (BMK08) coming soon!
• Toxic Politics - Meet the Scottish Government's Minister for Sinister Chemicals
• Imidacloprid Licensed for Use by Mowi in Loch Ailort?
• Further Scientific Opposition to Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Patent lifts lid on neonicotinoid use in salmon farming
• Horrible History: Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Scientific Opposition to Neonicotinoid Use in Salmon Farming
• Backgrounder: "Imidacloprid - A Neonicotinoid Insecticide Toxic to Aquatic Life"
• BBC Farming Today on "Neonicotinoids in Salmon Farming"
• Sunday Times: "Outlawed insecticide may be used on Scottish salmon"
• FOI letter on Scientific Concerns re. Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming
• Scottish Greens "Deeply Concerned" at Mowi's Field Trial of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in Loch Ailort
• Letter to the Prince of Wales re. bee-killing Imidacloprid use at royal warrant holder Mowi
• Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid?
• Follow the Salmoney - the Norwegian tobacco billionaire behind the Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid
• ENDS Report: "Calls for greater transparency over ‘toxic’ new fish farm product"
• Letter to SEPA: Please Come Clean on Imidacloprid!
• Letter to Scottish Ministers, SEPA & the VMD re. Imidacloprid
• FOI requests on Imidacloprid to SEPA, VMD & the Scottish Government
• Revealed: Toxic Neonicotinoid Insecticide Used to 'CleanTreat' Lousy Salmon
• Please Come Clean on BMK08!
• Sunday Times: "Official fears revealed over toxic threat of salmon trade"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon
• CleanTreat FOI Disclosures by the Scottish Government to Scottish Salmon Watch
• Media Backgrounder: Chemically Embalmed Scottish Salmon
• All is Not Well With Sick Scottish Salmon

Breaking News: Victory in Europe - Parliament votes against the use of the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in farmed salmon!

 

Breaking News: Victory in Europe - @Europarl_EN votes against the use of the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in farmed salmon! @GraceOSllvn @europeangreens https://t.co/GuPl3tj62S
Benchmark’s BMK08 (Imidacloprid) is dead in the water in Europe! @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner pic.twitter.com/s3lZtrCKrw

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 10, 2021

 

 

 

Last night (9 June 2021), MEPs in the European Parliament voted against the use of the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in salmon farming when they supported an objection to an MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) in farmed salmon. 

 

 

 

Grace O'Sullivan MEP Tweeted (10 June 2021):

 

My resolution calling on @EU_Commission to block use of a toxic pesticide in EU's fish farms has passed!

Imidacloprid is linked to biodiversity loss + already banned for certain agri uses on land.

I pursued based on evidence it's bad for both terrestrial and marine-life👏 pic.twitter.com/alxkkufEU6

— Grace O'Sullivan MEP (@GraceOSllvn) June 10, 2021

 

 

Here's a press release from Grace O'Sullivan MEP - who led the opposition to the banned neonicotinoid (dubbed by Professor Dave Goulson of the University of Sussex as 'Novichok for insects') - issued before the European Parliament vote in the Plenary session yesterday (9 June 2021):

 

***Press Release***

 

Grace O'Sullivan MEP Calls on European Union to Ban Toxic Pesticide Use in Salmon Farming in Key Vote

 

A resolution by Green MEP for Ireland South, Grace O'Sullivan, calling on the Commission to block the use of a toxic neonicotinoid in the EU's fish farms will be voted this week by the European Parliament.

The Imidacloprid pesticide is already banned in the EU for certain agricultural uses on land, and has been linked to biodiversity loss and a decline in bee populations. There is mounting evidence that the use of this neonicotinoid has a devastating impact on rivers and waterways and its use in Japan has been linked to a dramatic collapse of fish stocks. Despite this, the European Commission is proposing to establish a Maximum Residue Level for Imidacloprid, which will clear the way for the pesticide's use in EU aquaculture as a treatment for sea lice.

Speaking prior to the vote today, Grace O'Sullivan said "We need to put a stop to the use of dangerous neonicotinoids in fish farming. We know that this chemical has devastating impacts on the environment and biodiversity. For this very reason the EU already banned its use on certain crops, a decision more recently upheld by the European Court of Justice. We won't accept the use of Imidacloprid on crops, and we won't accept it in our marine environment either."

 

The Resolution was passed by the Committee on the Environment, Food Safety and Public Health by 49 votes to 27, with two abstentions, and will be voted on by the European Parliament on Wednesday 9 June at 12:45 CET.

 

 

 

"We need to put a stop to the use of dangerous neonicotinoids in fish farming. We know that this chemical has devastating impacts on biodiversity. We won't accept the use of Imidacloprid on crops & we won't accept it in our marine environment" @GraceOSllvn https://t.co/TspPGvVQXd pic.twitter.com/qsxVGGMXXK

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 10, 2021

 

Don Staniford, Director of Scottish Salmon Watch, said in response to the European Parliament's objection to Imidacloprid:

 

"The use of Imidacloprid - dubbed 'Novichok for insects' - in salmon farming in Scotland is now dead in the water. Salmon farming is Scotland's 'Silent Spring of the Sea' with a lethal cocktail of toxic chemicals such as Azamethiphos, Emamectin benzoate, Deltamethrin, Hydrogen peroxide and Formaldehyde already flooding Scottish waters. The European Parliament's opposition to Imidacloprid - banned for use in terrestrial agriculture in 2018 - effectively kills any use of BMK08/Ectosan (Imidacloprid) by companies such as Mowi in Scotland as Europe is such a key market for Scottish salmon.  Serious questions must now be asked of Benchmark's lack of disclosure to investors and the stock market."

 

 

 

 

In simple words, fish farms want to use bee killer to kill sea lice, the EU worries that folk eating salmon will get a dose too, as will any aquatic life if there’s a spill. That’s on top of any antibiotics already in your lunchtime sandwich. https://t.co/BuG8frCGDL

— Eòghann MacUalraig (@ewangkennedy) June 10, 2021

 

Here's the European Parliament's web-site detailing the text adopted today (10 June 2021):

 

 

 

Download the text in full as a PDF online here

 

 

Very proud @ZoeZebedee for all the months of tirelessly working to protect our aquatic environment against this “agent orange broad spectrum killer”. The fact that the @EU_Commission didn’t want to publish the studies was… well fishy to say the least #transparency #imidacloprid pic.twitter.com/YKdOr4IJip

— Günther Dauwen 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺🎗 (@GDauwen) June 10, 2021

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch wrote this morning to the London Stock Exchange (where Benchmark is floated) and the Financial Conduct Authority:

 

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jun 10, 2021 at 9:17 AM
Subject: EP votes against MRL for Imidacloprid (BMK08) in farmed salmon - Benchmark loses access to key market
To: Customer Contact Centre <consumer.queries@fca.org.uk>, AIM Regulation <aimregulation@lseg.com>
Cc: <info@benchmarkplc.com>, Rachel Aninakwah <rachel.aninakwah@bmkholdings.com>

Surely Benchmark (copied in here) must now disclose to investors how their BMK08 (Imidacloprid) is now dead in the water for use in farmed salmon destined for Europe (a significant market)?

 

Via: https://twitter.com/TheGAAIA/status/1402899159720546304

 

 

 

Download vote details via: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/home.html

 

• Results of the second voting session of Wednesday 9 June 2021

 

 

Read more background via:

 

Fish Farming Expert: "Novel lice treatment threatened by European Parliament vote"

 

Wave of European Opposition to Benchmark's Imidacloprid (BMK08) - the tide turns against neonicotinoids in salmon pharming!

 

 

 

Thanks,

 

Don

 

 

 

Tune in for tomorrow's vote @Europarl_EN on an objection to the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in salmon pharming @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @GraceOSllvn @europeangreens https://t.co/GuPl3tj62S
When is Benchmark going to inform investors that BMK08 is dead in the water? #BMK08 pic.twitter.com/8EMHagLQMl

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 8, 2021

 

 

When will Benchmark warn investors that their 'environmentally friendly' CleanTreat system deploys the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid ('Novichok for insects') which is opposed by the European Parliament? @proactive_UK @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner https://t.co/TspPGvVQXd #BMK08 pic.twitter.com/DjxNzUd2OE

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 10, 2021

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch wrote to the London Stock Exchange and the Financial Conduct Authority last month:

 

 

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, May 29, 2021 at 12:38 PM
Subject: Misleading financial starements by Benchmark re. BMK08 (Imidacloprid)
To: <newsroom@lseg.com>, <firm.queries@fca.org.uk>
Cc: Rachel Aninakwah <rachel.aninakwah@bmkholdings.com>, <info@benchmarkplc.com>, <benchmark@mhpc.com>

 

Please consider this a formal complaint against Benchmark (copied in here) for misleading statements and the omission of crucial market information regarding BMK08/Ectosan (the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid - described in an article published this week by the Guardian as 'Novichok for insects'). 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch honestly believes that Benchmark is guilty of misrepresentation and non-disclosure in relation to BMK08/Ectosan.  Benchmark has patently failed to inform shareholders, investors, the public, the stock exchange and the media that BMK08/Ectosan is in fact the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid.

 

For example:

 

- Benchmark's main web-page omits to mention the fact that BMK08 is imidacloprid:

https://www.benchmarkplc.com/what-we-do/animal-health/

 

- When Benchmark first marketed Imidacloprid in December 2017 it was hidden behind the trade name Ectosan with the claim that it had "no environmental impact":

https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/full?dockey=1323-13461593-7TRJ6JLUJF6F4SP9S18J8GKP4V

 

- In November 2019, Benchmark re-named Ectosan as BMK08 but still failed to disclose the fact that it was the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid and claiming that it had "zero environmental impact" with regulatory approval expected in late 2020:

https://www.benchmarkplc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Trading-update-presentation-2811-final-1.pdf

 

- On 17 March 2020, Scottish Salmon Watch and The Ferret publicly reported for the first time that BMK08/Ectosan was Imidacloprid:

https://theferret.scot/fish-farm-companies-bee-harming-pesticide/

https://donstaniford.typepad.com/my-blog/2020/03/revealed-toxic-neonicotinoid-insecticide-used-to-cleantreat-lousy-scottish-salmon-.html

 

- On 20 March 2020, Benchmark first disclosed that BMK08 was Imidacloprid (this appears to be the only time and public statement from Benchmark admitting that Ectosan/BMK08 was Imidacloprid):

https://www.benchmarkplc.com/news/bmk08/

 

- Financial updates by Benchmark have failed to disclose the fact that BMK08 is Imidacloprid:

https://www.benchmarkplc.com/investors/regulatory-news-alerts/

 

- Financial reports - quarterly and annual - have failed to mention the fact that BMK08/Ectosan is Imidacloprid:

https://www.benchmarkplc.com/investors/reports-presentations/

 

- A regulatory update by Benchmark in September 2020 failed to disclose the fact that BMK08 is Imidacloprid and claimed that the banned neonicotinoid was "safe to use":

https://polaris.brighterir.com/public/benchmark/news/rns/story/wv8n6qx

 

- A regulatory update by Benchmark in March 2021 failed to disclose BMK08 was Imidacloprid suggesting that the product was environmentally friendly and sustainable:

https://polaris.brighterir.com/public/benchmark/news/rns/story/x2j346w

 

- A regulatory update by Benchmark in April 2021 not only failed to disclose BMK08 as Imidacloprid but wrongly stated that an MRL "has now been ratified under EU law":

https://polaris.brighterir.com/public/benchmark/news/rns/story/xpp72mx

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch therefore questions whether Benchmark has breached any financial reporting and disclosure requirements. 

 

Certainly, Scottish Salmon Watch believes that Benchmark misled the financial market - including the London Stock Exchange - in a press release issued on 16 April 2021 (see enclosed below along with an email to Benchmark).

 

Furthermore, Benchmark has failed to notify investors that Imidacloprid was banned in 2018 and earlier this month had appeal by Bayer knocked back: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-top-court-upholds-eu-ban-bayer-pesticides-linked-harming-bees-2021-05-06/

 

Just yesterday the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety voted in support of a motion objecting to an MRL for the use of Imidacloprid in salmon farming with a vote expected in the European Parliament's plenary next month:

https://donstaniford.typepad.com/my-blog/2021/05/wave-of-european-opposition-to-benchmarks-imidacloprid-bmk08-the-tide-turns-against-neonicotinoids-i.html

 

The motion - led by Grace O'Sullivan MEP - presented the scientific case against Imidacloprid:

https://donstaniford.typepad.com/my-blog/2021/05/european-opposition-to-neonicotinoid-contamination-of-farmed-salmon-is-bmk08-imidacloprid-dead-in-th.html

 

If, as expected, the European Parliament and European Commission outlaw the use of Imidacloprid in salmon farming then the financial impact on Benchmark will be crippling and may blow BMK08 out of the water completely not only in Scotland but also in Norway, Chile and Canada. 

 

It is certainly too early to claim, as Benchmark did last month to investors, that BMK08 had already been "ratified by EU law".   Indeed, it is a very real prospect that BMK08 (Imidacloprid) will be outlawed by the EU and banned for use in salmon farming as it is already for terrestrial agriculture.

 

Meanwhile, Benchmark continues to mislead investors and the media that BMK08 is close to commercial launch (again failing to disclose the alarming fact that BMK08 is the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid and public opposition to neonicotinoids is growing):

https://www.fishfarmingexpert.com/article/new-lice-treatment-now-in-hands-of-regulators/

https://www.fishfarmingexpert.com/article/new-lice-treatment-method-close-to-commercial-launch/

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch has published extensively on this issue and has included information in a blog published today via:

https://donstaniford.typepad.com/my-blog/2021/05/wave-of-european-opposition-to-benchmarks-imidacloprid-bmk08-the-tide-turns-against-neonicotinoids-i.html

 

 

We invite Benchmark - copied in here - to explain why they have misled the financial community and to come clean on their planned use of a banned neonicotinoid which is clearly neither an environmentally friendly option nor a palatable prospect for the public. 

 

Finally, we invite the financial community to investigate whether Benchmark is guilty of non-disclosure and deceptive financial statements.

 

Further information on this controversial and toxic issue is available via:

 

European Opposition to Neonicotinoid Contamination of Farmed Salmon - is BMK08 (Imidacloprid) dead in the water?

The Guardian: "‘Novichok for insects’ may be approved for Scottish fish farms"

Who are the toxic team lurking behind Benchmark's BMK08 (Imidacloprid) in Scottish salmon pharming?

The Ferret: "Bee-killing pesticide treatment for fish farms backed by Scottish Government"

Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon - Benchmark's magic trick making the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid disappear!

Rumsfeldian Fish Philosophy - Things We Know We Know, Things We Now Know We Don't Know & Things We Don't Know We Don't Know About 'Scottish' Salmon!

SEPA ordered by Commissioner to Disclose 'Commercially Confidential' Information on CleanTreat & BMK08 (Imidacloprid) by 7 June

Warning: Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming "Clears Another Hurdle" With European MRL

Warning: Imidacloprid Moves A Step Closer to Commercial Use in Salmon Farming

Nasty Neonicotinoid Plagues Salmon Farming in 2021

Toxic Neonicotinoid "Close to Commercial Launch" in Salmon Farming!

New Science Dogs Approval of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid for Scottish Salmon!

Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming?

Secret Salmon - On the Trail of Imidacloprid Use in Scotland!

British Wildlife: "Neonics in Salmon Farming - Alarm Bells Are Ringing"

Caveat Chile - toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (BMK08) coming soon!

Toxic Politics - Meet the Scottish Government's Minister for Sinister Chemicals

Imidacloprid Licensed for Use by Mowi in Loch Ailort?

Further Scientific Opposition to Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming

Patent lifts lid on neonicotinoid use in salmon farming

Horrible History: Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming

Scientific Opposition to Neonicotinoid Use in Salmon Farming

Backgrounder: "Imidacloprid - A Neonicotinoid Insecticide Toxic to Aquatic Life"

BBC Farming Today on "Neonicotinoids in Salmon Farming"

Sunday Times: "Outlawed insecticide may be used on Scottish salmon"

FOI letter on Scientific Concerns re. Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming

Scottish Greens "Deeply Concerned" at Mowi's Field Trial of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in Loch Ailort

Letter to the Prince of Wales re. bee-killing Imidacloprid use at royal warrant holder Mowi

Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid?

Follow the Salmoney - the Norwegian tobacco billionaire behind the Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid

ENDS Report: "Calls for greater transparency over ‘toxic’ new fish farm product"

Letter to SEPA: Please Come Clean on Imidacloprid!

Letter to Scottish Ministers, SEPA & the VMD re. Imidacloprid

FOI requests on Imidacloprid to SEPA, VMD & the Scottish Government

Revealed: Toxic Neonicotinoid Insecticide Used to 'CleanTreat' Lousy Salmon

Please Come Clean on BMK08!

Sunday Times: "Official fears revealed over toxic threat of salmon trade"

Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon

CleanTreat FOI Disclosures by the Scottish Government to Scottish Salmon Watch

Media Backgrounder: Chemically Embalmed Scottish Salmon

All is Not Well With Sick Scottish Salmon

 

Thanks,

 

Don Staniford

 

Director, Scottish Salmon Watch

 

 

 

A vote later today by the European Parliament's Environment Committee may severely impede the passage for the regulatory approval of Imidacloprid - dubbed the 'Novichok for insects' - or even leave it dead in the water @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner https://t.co/FnsWTQ4Xw8 #BMK08 pic.twitter.com/PbJHYNxuPh

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 28, 2021

 

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch reported last month (29 May 2021):

 

Wave of European Opposition to Benchmark's Imidacloprid (BMK08) - the tide turns against neonicotinoids in salmon pharming!https://t.co/NwAcL440Mo
A motion against Imidacloprid was adopted yesterday (28 May 2021) by the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment #BMK08 pic.twitter.com/cU2nERnWWU

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 29, 2021

 

 

The Guardian reported (27 May 2021):

 

 

"It’s like the wild west" said @DaveGoulson "These chemicals are incredibly poisonous – the novichok for insects. It takes a billionth of a gram to harm aquatic life, so even tiny traces would have major impacts on marine life" @guardian @WeAreBenchmark https://t.co/OzouYaXCEk

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

 

 

 

The Ferret reported (21 May 2021):

 

 

Marine Scotland’s director, Annabel Turpie, has backed a treatment system for farmed fish designed to use a pesticide with “potentially devastating consequences for marine life”.https://t.co/kCHxUc4YBC

— The Ferret (@FerretScot) May 21, 2021

 

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch reported (21 May 2021):

 

 

Meet the toxic team behind the use of the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in Scottish salmon pharming! https://t.co/AvF9wXoiNh @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @marinescotland @ScottishEPA @MairiMcAllan @MairiGougeon @GreenerScotland #Imidacloprid #BMK08 #Neonicotinoid #SEPA #Toxic pic.twitter.com/pH4c2aAZre

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 21, 2021

 

 

FOI reveals Benchmark's vanishing act claiming to make the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid disappear! https://t.co/OSsCH10m4C
"The biggest con trick since Harry Houdini"
"Straight out of Muppet Labs" @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @ScottishEPA @MairiMcAllan @DaveGoulson @PAN_UK pic.twitter.com/NquarUKNZi

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 21, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In April 2021, Scottish Salmon Watch wrote to Benchmark questioning the accuracy of the claim that BMK08 (Imidacloprid) had been "ratified under EU law".

 

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Apr 19, 2021 at 9:44 AM
Subject: Imidacloprid MRL "ratified under EU Law"
To: Rachel Aninakwah <rachel.aninakwah@bmkholdings.com>

 

Rachel,

 

Could you please clarify your claim in Benchmark's press release on Friday (see below)?

 

Namely:

 

"Benchmark Holdings is pleased to announce that the MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) for its novel sea lice treatment BMK08 has now been ratified under European Law".

 

 

How and where has an MRL for Imidacloprid (BMK08) "now been ratified under European Law"?

 

Please provide the documentation to corroborate this claim.

 

Scottish Salmon Watch understands from dialogue with a contact in Brussels that Benchmark has jumped the gun on this one and your claim is incorrect. 

 

Clarification by the end of the day would therefore be much appreciated.

 

You could also reply to this Tweet: https://twitter.com/TheGAAIA/status/1384065096704425986

 

Thanks,

 

Don

 

 

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Apr 19, 2021 at 9:44 AM
Subject: Imidacloprid MRL "ratified under EU Law"
To: Rachel Aninakwah <rachel.aninakwah@bmkholdings.com>

Rachel,

 

Could you please clarify your claim in Benchmark's press release on Friday (see below)?

 

Namely:

 

"Benchmark Holdings is pleased to announce that the MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) for its novel sea lice treatment BMK08 has now been ratified under European Law".

 

 

How and where has an MRL for Imidacloprid (BMK08) "now been ratified under European Law"?

 

Please provide the documentation to corroborate this claim.

 

Scottish Salmon Watch understands from dialogue with a contact in Brussels that Benchmark has jumped the gun on this one and your claim is incorrect. 

 

Clarification by the end of the day would therefore be much appreciated.

 

You could also reply to this Tweet: https://twitter.com/TheGAAIA/status/1384065096704425986

 

Thanks,

 

Don

 

 

 

From: Benchmark Holdings <mailservice@euroland.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2021 at 11:04
Subject: Benchmark Holdings - BMK08+CleanTreat Update
To:

RNS Number : 7421V

Benchmark Holdings PLC

16 April 2021

 

16 April 2021

Benchmark Holdings

("Benchmark" or the "Company")

BMK08+CleanTreatÒ Update

Ratification of Maximum Residue Limit under European Law

Significant milestone towards the commercialisation of BMK08 and CleanTreatÒ

Further to the notification made on 10 September 2020, Benchmark Holdings is pleased to announce that the MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) for its novel sea lice treatment BMK08 has now been ratified under European Law. The MRL confirms the safety of Benchmark's sea lice solution for consumers and represents a significant milestone in the regulatory approval process towards the anticipated commercial launch of BMK08 and CleanTreatÒ in Norway. The commercial launch remains subject to the grant of a Marketing Authorisation in Norway.  

BMK08 and CleanTreatÒ is a transformational solution addressing the biggest biological challenge in salmon farming. The MRL EU ratification is the culmination of almost a decade of research and development, a rigorous trial programme and substantial capital investment by Benchmark.  

Trond Williksen, CEO, commented:

"The ratification of the MRL is a further stepping stone towards commercialisation following the announcement of our first customer agreements for CleanTreatâ  announced in March.

Sea lice continues to be the biggest biological challenge for salmon producers and Benchmark's novel solution addresses this challenge in a sustainable way both in terms of animal welfare and environmental impact."

Enquiries:

Benchmark Holdings plc	Tel: 020 3696 0630
Ivonne Cantu, Investor Relations Director
Rachel Aninakwah, Communications
Numis (Broker and NOMAD)	Tel: 020 7260 1000
James Black / Freddie Barnfield / Duncan Monteith
MHP
Katie Hunt /Alistair de Kare-Silver	Tel: 020 3128 8742                            benchmark@mhpc.com

 

 

 

"Benchmark said that the MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) for its novel sea lice treatment BMK08 [Imidacloprid] has been ratified under European Law" @proactive_UK @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner https://t.co/QTrQYmXTvy
Where are the EU documents? @euparl_net @europeangreens @EMA_News

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 19, 2021

 

 

Reuters reported last month (6 May 2021):

 

 

 

In March 2020, Scottish Salmon Watch and The Ferret revealed that BMk08 (formerly marketed by Benchmark as 'Ectosan') was the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid.

 

 

Revealed: Toxic Neonicotinoid Insecticide Used to 'CleanTreat' Lousy Salmon https://t.co/ORQS4EAeDS @WeAreBenchmark @MowiScotlandLtd @scotseafarms @salmon_scottish @GriegShetland @ScottishEPA @SSPOsays @IntraFishNorge @FergusEwingMSP @ASC_aqua @marinescotland @rspcaassured pic.twitter.com/JOrTRbJExD

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 17, 2020

 

 

Campaigners fear that a nicotine pesticide that the fish farming industry and the Scottish Government want to trial in Scotland could threaten marine wildlife.https://t.co/bw5IBgTwqi

— The Ferret (@FerretScot) March 17, 2020

 

 

 

Imidacloprid was marketed as D10 Aquatic Blast in 2014. 

 

 

 

Do you know if Imidacloprid is already being used in Canadian salmon farming? Investors were encouraged back in 2014 to support the use of D10-Aquatic Blast (Imidacloprid) https://t.co/WJosc565Qv @DFO_Pacific @CBCNews @environmentca @CermaqCan @MowiCanadaWest @GovCanHealth

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 10, 2021

 

 

 

Then in 2017, Benchmark promoted Imidacloprid as Ectosan (without telling investors or the public that it was 'Novichok for insects') before rebranding it as BMK08 in 2019.   Read more about the 'horrible history' online here

 

 

 

 

Meet the filthy rich Norwegian tobacco billionaire @FerdOwner desperate to 'CleanTreat' parasite-infested pharmed salmon with the toxic neonicotinoid insecticide Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan) @WeAreBenchmark https://t.co/ORQS4EAeDS #Salmoney #Salmonopoly https://t.co/u5aJ4cQ1eS pic.twitter.com/2zh6cxBdeg

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 18, 2020

 

 

"It's the tasty one," said a cigarette ad for Tiedemanns Tobaksfabrik (biggest tobacco company in Norway) @FerdOwner https://t.co/Pv7Npg9mWB "Setting a new standard in environmental care for sea lice bath treatments," claims CleanTreat @WeAreBenchmark #BlowingSmoke #Imidacloprid pic.twitter.com/SE0xCB38FC

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 19, 2020

 

 

 

In May 2020, Scottish Salmon Watch revealed that Mowi had lobbied the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to support a field trial of Imidacloprid (Ectosan) in Loch Ailort. 

 

Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid? https://t.co/S1ovGqCpu7 FOI reveals proposed 'field trial' of toxic neonicotinoid @MowiScotlandLtd at Ardnish in Loch Ailort @ScottishEPA @WeAreBenchmark @marinescotland @FerdOwner @vmdgovuk #BMK08 pic.twitter.com/iUl9lk7XPv

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 20, 2020

 

 

 

In April 2021, Scottish Salmon Watch warned: 

 

Warning: Toxic Neonicotinoid Use in Salmon Farming "Clears Another Hurdle"! @WeAreBenchmark appoint environmental modeller in Scotland for BMK08 (Imidacloprid) commercialisation via CleanTreat https://t.co/AcASvsOpsL @ScottishEPA @FerdOwner @ScotlandMowi @EMA_News @Bayer pic.twitter.com/dennERlTby

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 16, 2021

 

 

 

Read more via:

• Fish Farming Expert: "Novel lice treatment threatened by European Parliament vote"
• Wave of European Opposition to Benchmark's Imidacloprid (BMK08) - the tide turns against neonicotinoids in salmon pharming!
• European Opposition to Neonicotinoid Contamination of Farmed Salmon - is BMK08 (Imidacloprid) dead in the water?
• The Guardian: "‘Novichok for insects’ may be approved for Scottish fish farms"
• Who are the toxic team lurking behind Benchmark's BMK08 (Imidacloprid) in Scottish salmon pharming?
• The Ferret: "Bee-killing pesticide treatment for fish farms backed by Scottish Government"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon - Benchmark's magic trick making the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid disappear!
• Rumsfeldian Fish Philosophy - Things We Know We Know, Things We Now Know We Don't Know & Things We Don't Know We Don't Know About 'Scottish' Salmon!
• SEPA ordered by Commissioner to Disclose 'Commercially Confidential' Information on CleanTreat & BMK08 (Imidacloprid) by 7 June
• Warning: Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming "Clears Another Hurdle" With European MRL
• Warning: Imidacloprid Moves A Step Closer to Commercial Use in Salmon Farming
• Nasty Neonicotinoid Plagues Salmon Farming in 2021
• Toxic Neonicotinoid "Close to Commercial Launch" in Salmon Farming!
• New Science Dogs Approval of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid for Scottish Salmon!
• Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming?
• Secret Salmon - On the Trail of Imidacloprid Use in Scotland!
• British Wildlife: "Neonics in Salmon Farming - Alarm Bells Are Ringing"
• Caveat Chile - toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (BMK08) coming soon!
• Toxic Politics - Meet the Scottish Government's Minister for Sinister Chemicals
• Imidacloprid Licensed for Use by Mowi in Loch Ailort?
• Further Scientific Opposition to Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Patent lifts lid on neonicotinoid use in salmon farming
• Horrible History: Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Scientific Opposition to Neonicotinoid Use in Salmon Farming
• Backgrounder: "Imidacloprid - A Neonicotinoid Insecticide Toxic to Aquatic Life"
• BBC Farming Today on "Neonicotinoids in Salmon Farming"
• Sunday Times: "Outlawed insecticide may be used on Scottish salmon"
• FOI letter on Scientific Concerns re. Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming
• Scottish Greens "Deeply Concerned" at Mowi's Field Trial of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in Loch Ailort
• Letter to the Prince of Wales re. bee-killing Imidacloprid use at royal warrant holder Mowi
• Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid?
• Follow the Salmoney - the Norwegian tobacco billionaire behind the Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid
• ENDS Report: "Calls for greater transparency over ‘toxic’ new fish farm product"
• Letter to SEPA: Please Come Clean on Imidacloprid!
• Letter to Scottish Ministers, SEPA & the VMD re. Imidacloprid
• FOI requests on Imidacloprid to SEPA, VMD & the Scottish Government
• Revealed: Toxic Neonicotinoid Insecticide Used to 'CleanTreat' Lousy Salmon
• Please Come Clean on BMK08!
• Sunday Times: "Official fears revealed over toxic threat of salmon trade"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon
• CleanTreat FOI Disclosures by the Scottish Government to Scottish Salmon Watch
• Media Backgrounder: Chemically Embalmed Scottish Salmon
• All is Not Well With Sick Scottish Salmon

 

 

Please take the pledge to boycott pharmed salmon! https://t.co/srvE2G4DEs#Boycott #Toxic #Salmon pic.twitter.com/nw547JStIF

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 9, 2021

"Five out of the six top farms in Scotland" use GenusWave's 'Acoustic Startle Technology' - But is it MMPA compliant & does it comply with EU law?

 

"Five out of the six top farms in Scotland" use GenusWave's 'Acoustic Startle Technology' - but is it MMPA compliant & does it comply with EU law?https://t.co/Mnc3yvlWby @NOAA @marinescotland @MairiMcAllan @MairiGougeon @SSPOsays @chazz_findlay @denrisch @SAMSoceannews @EU_ENV pic.twitter.com/PIcWYW6DXI

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 9, 2021

 

 

 

Salmon Business reported earlier this week (7 June 2021):

 

 

 

 

 

Ace Aquatec claimed in Fish Farmer magazine to be "MMPA compliant" (1 March 2021).

 

 

Scotland’s salmon farmers are no longer using acoustic deterrent devices that may have been considered to cause disturbance to European Protected Species @salmonfarming1 @SSPOsays @aceaquatec https://t.co/cg6hChTfJW@nature_scot @SealifeA @whalesorg @dolmansarahj @HWDT_org

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 1, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

In August 2020, NOAA issued a 'proposed rule':

 

 

 

Ace Aquatec claims to "have secured MMPA compliance" for their ADDs - where is NOAA's official notification? https://t.co/vLSO4hiEQF @aceaquatec @SSPOsays @OTAQ2
NOAA's 'proposed rule' is "not yet final"!@NOAA @NOAAOceanToday @NOAAComms @marinescotland @nature_scot @SealifeA pic.twitter.com/leB144zooE

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 1, 2021

 

 

 

NOAA explained in an email to Scottish Salmon Watch (1 March 2021):

 

 

 

 

I Tweeted in March 2021:

 

 

So which ADDs are considered MMPA compliant? @aceaquatec @OTAQ2 @nature_scot @chazz_findlay @TheSoundOfJura @SealifeA @NOAA @HWDT_org @markruskell @ConcernMarine @JNCC_UK @strathearnrose @scotseafarms @ScotlandMowi @salmon_scottish https://t.co/746h88vkmC

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 1, 2021

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in February 2021:

 

Is it enough to turn down the volume of ADDs on salmon farms to comply with the US Marine Mammal Protection Act? @SSPOsays @SealifeA @OTAQ2 @aceaquatec @_SMRU_ @NOAA @marinescotland
How low do you go to comply with European law on disturbance of cetaceans? @nature_scot @JNCC_UK pic.twitter.com/WB6kYMrPKE

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 23, 2021

 

 

Does this mean the use of ADDs by salmon farms is illegal? @SealifeA @marinescotland @nature_scot @OTAQ2 @aceaquatec @FergusEwingSNP @markruskell @TheSoundOfJura @ewangkennedy @FerretScot @scotseafarms @ScotlandMowi @strathearnrose https://t.co/Axm3tFTevg

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 20, 2021

 

 

Did lawyers finally have the bottle to affirm to @GreenerScotland @NicolaSturgeon @strathearnrose that ADD use was illegal? https://t.co/jvVxtOvxMr
Did @SSPOsays see the writing on the wall? @OTAQ2 @aceaquatec @nature_scot @SealifeA @whalesorg @HWDT_org @tex_sim @chazz_findlay https://t.co/0Tunz9ZRqy pic.twitter.com/ObrkjxRrwK

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 21, 2021

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in June 2020:

 

 

 

Genuswave claim on their web-site:

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in a press release (17 June 2020):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in February 2021:

 

The above web-page no longer exists (as of 22 February 2021):

 

 

 

 

GenusWave still claim on their new web-site that it is "MMPA compliant":

 

 

 

Fish Farmer reported in March 2020:

 

 

Read article in full in the April 2020 issue of Fish Farmer online here

 

 

 

 

 

The Times reported in 2013 that salmon farmers in Scotland had baulked at the cost of trialling GenusWave:

 

 

 

In 2013, The Times reported that @ScotlandMowi (a company controlled by billionaire John Fredriksen - worth $10.4 billion) "cannot afford £5,000 a month" to trial GenusWave (a low frequency ADD) @thetimes https://t.co/vLSO4hAfId@OTAQ2 @aceaquatec @SSPOsays @HamishMacdonell pic.twitter.com/HNEXGGp0q7

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 23, 2021

 

 

In 2013, The Times reported that Marine Harvest (Mowi) didn't want to pay £5K to trial GenusWave. Now in 2021 we discover noisy ADDs harm harbour porpoises 28 km away from salmon farms.
Is @ScotlandMowi now using GenusWave? https://t.co/6pIlScjeQw#Cheap #Scottish #Salmon https://t.co/TcDBJ23BwL

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 9, 2021

 

 

 

According to documents filed at Companies House, GenusWave is owned by the American investor Steven Alveny (95% shares) and German university reader Vincent Janik of the University of St. Andrews (5% shares):

 

 

 

Vincent Janik is a professor at the University of St. Andrews and Director of the Scottish Oceans Institute whilst Steven Alveny is listed via LinkedIn as Managing Director at Bankers Capital. 

 

 

 

Read more via:

• "Scientists sound warning over next-gen seal scarers"
• Journal of Applied Ecology: "Auditory impairment from acoustic seal deterrents predicted for harbour porpoises in a marine protected area"
• Fish Farmer: "Seal scarers could harm porpoises, study finds"
• Parliamentary Report: "ADD Use in the Aquaculture Sector"
• Scientific Study into Impact of Low Frequency ADDs Silenced!
• Pulling the Plug on ADD on salmon farms - is turning down the volume enough to comply with the law?
• Sunday Times: "Animal welfare campaigners sound out ban on acoustic seal deterrent"
• Mail On Sunday: "Salmon farmers are 'torturing' porpoises and dolphins with high-pitched noises to protect their stock, campaigners warn"
• Unlicensed use of ADDs in aquaculture is contrary to European Protected Species legislation & completely immoral!
• Daily Record: "Whales and dolphins being 'tortured' by anti-seal scare devices at Scottish fish farms"
• The Guardian: "Scottish salmon farmers to be banned from shooting seals"
• Caught Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea
• The Ferret: "Seal scarers used by fish farms branded 'sonic torture'"
• GenusWave 'Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology' - in compliance with the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act??
• Seal shooting at salmon farms doubles before ban
• Ban on seal shooting must be watertight
• Greens want ban on seal scarers
• BBC Countryfile on ADDs impacting on cetaceans
• Sounding Off On Salmon Farms - Acoustic Deterrent Devices evade Marine Noise Registry
• SARF report 112: "Influences of lower-frequency Acoustic Deterrent Devices (ADDs) on cetaceans in Scottish coastal waters"
• The Times: "Noisy fish farms ‘harm other marine life’"
• Mapping widespread and increasing underwater noise pollution from acoustic deterrent devices
• Sounding Off About Scotland's Noisy Salmon Farms - Turn Off Acoustic Deterrent Devices to Protect Cetaceans
• Deafening Impact of Salmon Farms on Cetaceans
• The National: "Warning salmon farm devices could hit wildlife tourism"
• Turning Down the Volume on Salmon Farms is Not Enough: 'Cetacean Friendly' Acoustic Deterrent Devices Still Harm & Must Be Banned 
• Cetaceans Sound Alarm On Salmon Farms - new research sparks EC complaint & call to ban Acoustic Deterrent Devices
• Sunday Herald: "Health of whales, dolphins and porpoises put at risk by underwater alarms"
• Noisy Salmon Farms - Switch Off Acoustic Deterrent Devices Now!

 

 

 

The Scottish Government is always listening intently & watching closely when it comes to concerns raised about the killing of seals and use of Acoustic Deterrent Devices https://t.co/6oL8F8T0VE @FergusEwingMSP @marinescotland @nature_scot @aceaquatec @OTAQ2 @MowiScotlandLtd pic.twitter.com/jbZMIiIPys

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 17, 2020

 

 

 

The Scottish Government is always listening intently & watching closely when it comes to concerns raised about the killing of seals and use of Acoustic Deterrent Devices https://t.co/6oL8F8T0VE @FergusEwingMSP @marinescotland @nature_scot @aceaquatec @OTAQ2 @MowiScotlandLtd pic.twitter.com/jbZMIiIPys

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 17, 2020

 

 

 

The Scottish Government is always listening intently & watching closely when it comes to concerns raised about the killing of seals and use of Acoustic Deterrent Devices https://t.co/6oL8F8T0VE @FergusEwingMSP @marinescotland @nature_scot @aceaquatec @OTAQ2 @MowiScotlandLtd pic.twitter.com/jbZMIiIPys

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 17, 2020

 

"Scientists sound warning over next-gen seal scarers"

 

Dr Denise Risch: “Our study highlights that noise pollution from ADDs has been widespread on the Scottish west coast. Alternative solutions such as the use of more robust netting material do exist and have been proven successful in reducing seal predation"https://t.co/YSpQlm0VPX

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 9, 2021

 

 

Fish Farming Expert reported (9 June 2021):

 

 

 

Read the scientific paper in the Journal of Applied Ecology online here

 

 

🚨 NEW OPEN ACCESS PAPER! 🔊🐬
Our @JAppliedEcology paper predicted the potential for auditory impairment from acoustic seal deterrents for harbour porpoises within a marine protected area https://t.co/cR5ZYQQ5BD #UnderwaterNoise #Aquaculture #ADDs

Thread ⬇️(1/7) pic.twitter.com/g3zvcc93jJ

— Charlotte Findlay (@chazz_findlay) June 9, 2021

 

 

 

Salmon farmers and Scottish Government officials have had years to heed the clarion calls to switch off noisy ADDs on salmon farms.  The Ferret and The Sunday Herald reported in May 2017:

 

 

 

 

 

Read more via: Press Release: "Cetaceans Sound Alarm On Salmon Farms - new research sparks EC complaint & call to ban Acoustic Deterrent Devices"

 

 

 

Read more via:

• Journal of Applied Ecology: "Auditory impairment from acoustic seal deterrents predicted for harbour porpoises in a marine protected area"
• Fish Farmer: "Seal scarers could harm porpoises, study finds"
• Parliamentary Report: "ADD Use in the Aquaculture Sector"
• Scientific Study into Impact of Low Frequency ADDs Silenced!
• Pulling the Plug on ADD on salmon farms - is turning down the volume enough to comply with the law?
• Sunday Times: "Animal welfare campaigners sound out ban on acoustic seal deterrent"
• Mail On Sunday: "Salmon farmers are 'torturing' porpoises and dolphins with high-pitched noises to protect their stock, campaigners warn"
• Unlicensed use of ADDs in aquaculture is contrary to European Protected Species legislation & completely immoral!
• Daily Record: "Whales and dolphins being 'tortured' by anti-seal scare devices at Scottish fish farms"
• The Guardian: "Scottish salmon farmers to be banned from shooting seals"
• Caught Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea
• The Ferret: "Seal scarers used by fish farms branded 'sonic torture'"
• GenusWave 'Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology' - in compliance with the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act??
• Seal shooting at salmon farms doubles before ban
• Ban on seal shooting must be watertight
• Greens want ban on seal scarers
• BBC Countryfile on ADDs impacting on cetaceans
• Sounding Off On Salmon Farms - Acoustic Deterrent Devices evade Marine Noise Registry
• SARF report 112: "Influences of lower-frequency Acoustic Deterrent Devices (ADDs) on cetaceans in Scottish coastal waters"
• The Times: "Noisy fish farms ‘harm other marine life’"
• Mapping widespread and increasing underwater noise pollution from acoustic deterrent devices
• Sounding Off About Scotland's Noisy Salmon Farms - Turn Off Acoustic Deterrent Devices to Protect Cetaceans
• Deafening Impact of Salmon Farms on Cetaceans
• The National: "Warning salmon farm devices could hit wildlife tourism"
• Turning Down the Volume on Salmon Farms is Not Enough: 'Cetacean Friendly' Acoustic Deterrent Devices Still Harm & Must Be Banned 
• Cetaceans Sound Alarm On Salmon Farms - new research sparks EC complaint & call to ban Acoustic Deterrent Devices
• Sunday Herald: "Health of whales, dolphins and porpoises put at risk by underwater alarms"
• Noisy Salmon Farms - Switch Off Acoustic Deterrent Devices Now!

 

 

 

 

Since @scotgov has known about this scientific research since 2017 & knew noise pollution from salmon farms was breaching EU law then why has no legal action been taken? @marinescotland @nature_scot @JNCC_UK @EU_ENV @SAMSoceannews @FerretScot @SSPOsays https://t.co/plFpMdH1pZ https://t.co/tBpfNCyI9q pic.twitter.com/XrW6btAiSP

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 9, 2021

 

 

 

In 2013, The Times reported that Marine Harvest (Mowi) didn't want to pay £5K to trial GenusWave. Now in 2021 we discover noisy ADDs harm harbour porpoises 28 km away from salmon farms.
Is @ScotlandMowi now using GenusWave? https://t.co/6pIlScjeQw#Cheap #Scottish #Salmon https://t.co/TcDBJ23BwL

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 9, 2021

 

Journal of Applied Ecology: "Auditory impairment from acoustic seal deterrents predicted for harbour porpoises in a marine protected area"

 

🚨 NEW OPEN ACCESS PAPER! 🔊🐬
Our @JAppliedEcology paper predicted the potential for auditory impairment from acoustic seal deterrents for harbour porpoises within a marine protected area https://t.co/cR5ZYQQ5BD #UnderwaterNoise #Aquaculture #ADDs

Thread ⬇️(1/7) pic.twitter.com/g3zvcc93jJ

— Charlotte Findlay (@chazz_findlay) June 9, 2021

 

The Journal of Applied Ecology reported online (9 June 2021):

 

 

 

Read paper in full online here

 

 

Our results make evident that noise from ADDs can propagate far beyond the immediate vicinity of aquaculture sites and ADD noise ensonified over 11.8% of the Scottish west coast study area (4/7) pic.twitter.com/fWYQH1BW3A

— Charlotte Findlay (@chazz_findlay) June 9, 2021

 

 

Greater than 23% of the Inner Hebrides and Minches Harbour Porpoise Special Area of Conservation was ensonified by ADD noise exceeding levels defined for Temporary Threshold Shifts (TTS) by the NMFS (2018) (6/7) pic.twitter.com/JaPmBEwCjk

— Charlotte Findlay (@chazz_findlay) June 9, 2021

 

 

 

Fish Farmer reported (9 June 2021):

 

 

The “wall of sound” created by acoustic deterrent devices used by salmon farms across Scotland could harm porpoises up to 28 km away @chazz_findlay @SAMSoceannews @denrisch @SealifeA @whalesorg @dolmansarahj @MairiMcAllan @marinescotland @JNCC_UK @SSPOsayshttps://t.co/BNP2baHZvA pic.twitter.com/6v6pcUDXTE

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 9, 2021

 

 

 

The Scottish Association of Marine Science reported in a press release (9 June 2021):

 

 

❗️New paper❗️

Research by SAMS, led by @chazz_findlay, shows extent of noise from previously used 'seal scarers' at fish farms off Scot west coast.

The authors want cumulative noise to be considered when planning future deterrents. https://t.co/7Juf77kv0K

Pic: Lewis Drysdale pic.twitter.com/wPr3FvdJmz

— Scottish Association for Marine Science (@SAMSoceannews) June 9, 2021

 

 

 

Read more via:

• Fish Farmer: "Seal scarers could harm porpoises, study finds"
• Parliamentary Report: "ADD Use in the Aquaculture Sector"
• Scientific Study into Impact of Low Frequency ADDs Silenced!
• Pulling the Plug on ADD on salmon farms - is turning down the volume enough to comply with the law?
• Sunday Times: "Animal welfare campaigners sound out ban on acoustic seal deterrent"
• Mail On Sunday: "Salmon farmers are 'torturing' porpoises and dolphins with high-pitched noises to protect their stock, campaigners warn"
• Unlicensed use of ADDs in aquaculture is contrary to European Protected Species legislation & completely immoral!
• Daily Record: "Whales and dolphins being 'tortured' by anti-seal scare devices at Scottish fish farms"
• The Guardian: "Scottish salmon farmers to be banned from shooting seals"
• Caught Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea
• The Ferret: "Seal scarers used by fish farms branded 'sonic torture'"
• GenusWave 'Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology' - in compliance with the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act??
• Seal shooting at salmon farms doubles before ban
• Ban on seal shooting must be watertight
• Greens want ban on seal scarers
• BBC Countryfile on ADDs impacting on cetaceans
• Sounding Off On Salmon Farms - Acoustic Deterrent Devices evade Marine Noise Registry
• SARF report 112: "Influences of lower-frequency Acoustic Deterrent Devices (ADDs) on cetaceans in Scottish coastal waters"
• The Times: "Noisy fish farms ‘harm other marine life’"
• Mapping widespread and increasing underwater noise pollution from acoustic deterrent devices
• Sounding Off About Scotland's Noisy Salmon Farms - Turn Off Acoustic Deterrent Devices to Protect Cetaceans
• Deafening Impact of Salmon Farms on Cetaceans
• The National: "Warning salmon farm devices could hit wildlife tourism"
• Turning Down the Volume on Salmon Farms is Not Enough: 'Cetacean Friendly' Acoustic Deterrent Devices Still Harm & Must Be Banned 
• Cetaceans Sound Alarm On Salmon Farms - new research sparks EC complaint & call to ban Acoustic Deterrent Devices
• Sunday Herald: "Health of whales, dolphins and porpoises put at risk by underwater alarms"
• Noisy Salmon Farms - Switch Off Acoustic Deterrent Devices Now!

 

 

 

 

Since @scotgov has known about this scientific research since 2017 & knew noise pollution from salmon farms was breaching EU law then why has no legal action been taken? @marinescotland @nature_scot @JNCC_UK @EU_ENV @SAMSoceannews @FerretScot @SSPOsays https://t.co/plFpMdH1pZ https://t.co/tBpfNCyI9q pic.twitter.com/XrW6btAiSP

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 9, 2021

 

 

 

"This study highlights the potential for auditory impairment from ADD noise to non-target species such as harbour porpoises, at distances exceeding 28 km from aquaculture sites" https://t.co/8coPVZkLFH
Salmon farming harms wildlife! pic.twitter.com/EJfW91Rst0

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 9, 2021

 

Fish Farmer: "Seal scarers could harm porpoises, study finds"

 

The “wall of sound” created by acoustic deterrent devices used by salmon farms across Scotland could harm porpoises up to 28 km away @chazz_findlay @SAMSoceannews @denrisch @SealifeA @whalesorg @dolmansarahj @MairiMcAllan @marinescotland @JNCC_UK @SSPOsayshttps://t.co/BNP2baHZvA pic.twitter.com/6v6pcUDXTE

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 9, 2021

 

Fish Farmer reported (9 June 2021):

 

 

 

 

The Fish Site reported (9 June 2021):

 

 

 

Download the paper published in the Journal of Applied Ecology online here

 

 

The paper concluded:

 

 

 

 

Marine Pollution Bulletin reported in April 2021:

 

 

 

Read more via:

• Parliamentary Report: "ADD Use in the Aquaculture Sector"
• Scientific Study into Impact of Low Frequency ADDs Silenced!
• Pulling the Plug on ADD on salmon farms - is turning down the volume enough to comply with the law?
• Sunday Times: "Animal welfare campaigners sound out ban on acoustic seal deterrent"
• Mail On Sunday: "Salmon farmers are 'torturing' porpoises and dolphins with high-pitched noises to protect their stock, campaigners warn"
• Unlicensed use of ADDs in aquaculture is contrary to European Protected Species legislation & completely immoral!
• Daily Record: "Whales and dolphins being 'tortured' by anti-seal scare devices at Scottish fish farms"
• The Guardian: "Scottish salmon farmers to be banned from shooting seals"
• Caught Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea
• The Ferret: "Seal scarers used by fish farms branded 'sonic torture'"
• GenusWave 'Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology' - in compliance with the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act??
• Seal shooting at salmon farms doubles before ban
• Ban on seal shooting must be watertight
• Greens want ban on seal scarers
• BBC Countryfile on ADDs impacting on cetaceans
• Sounding Off On Salmon Farms - Acoustic Deterrent Devices evade Marine Noise Registry
• SARF report 112: "Influences of lower-frequency Acoustic Deterrent Devices (ADDs) on cetaceans in Scottish coastal waters"
• The Times: "Noisy fish farms ‘harm other marine life’"
• Mapping widespread and increasing underwater noise pollution from acoustic deterrent devices
• Sounding Off About Scotland's Noisy Salmon Farms - Turn Off Acoustic Deterrent Devices to Protect Cetaceans
• Deafening Impact of Salmon Farms on Cetaceans
• The National: "Warning salmon farm devices could hit wildlife tourism"
• Turning Down the Volume on Salmon Farms is Not Enough: 'Cetacean Friendly' Acoustic Deterrent Devices Still Harm & Must Be Banned 
• Cetaceans Sound Alarm On Salmon Farms - new research sparks EC complaint & call to ban Acoustic Deterrent Devices
• Sunday Herald: "Health of whales, dolphins and porpoises put at risk by underwater alarms"
• Noisy Salmon Farms - Switch Off Acoustic Deterrent Devices Now!

 

 

Government report reveals increasing use of noisy Acoustic Deterrent Devices on Scottish salmon farms! https://t.co/BGwjnnHMwR@SAMSoceannews @denrisch @chazz_findlay @tex_sim
@nature_scot @marinescotland @SSPOsays @OTAQ2
@aceaquatec @NOAAComms @SealifeA @salmon_scottish pic.twitter.com/Ze3tBdKfBN

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 2, 2021

 

Fact-Check: "The Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation says that there are currently no ADDs in use at Scottish farms"https://t.co/jSVobZFe2D @SAMSoceannews
Is this really true? @SSPOsays @ScotlandMowi @GriegShetland @salmon_scottish @scotseafarms @OTAQ2 @aceaquatec

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 9, 2021

Fish Farming Expert: "Novel lice treatment threatened by European Parliament vote"

 

The European Parliament will vote tomorrow on a resolution by Irish Green MEP Grace O’Sullivan that could potentially hamper Norwegian marketing authorisation for Benchmark’s BMK08 sea lice treatmenthttps://t.co/BIW09cD96e@GraceOSllvn @europeangreens @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 8, 2021

 

Fish Farming Expert reported (8 June 2021):

 

 

 

 

Agence Europe reported (8 June 2021):

 

 

 

European Parliament could oppose Imidacloprid residue being allowed in fish https://t.co/959xWTL0ql @AgencEurope @GraceOSllvn
Why has @WeAreBenchmark not informed investors of the financial risks of opposition to Imidacloprid (the 'Novichok for insects')? @LSEplc @TheFCA pic.twitter.com/co2ujUA6l5

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 9, 2021

 

 

 

Here's the agenda on the European Parliament's web-site:

 

 

Tune in for tomorrow's vote @Europarl_EN on an objection to the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in salmon pharming @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @GraceOSllvn @europeangreens https://t.co/GuPl3tj62S
When is Benchmark going to inform investors that BMK08 is dead in the water? #BMK08 pic.twitter.com/8EMHagLQMl

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 8, 2021

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch reported last month (29 May 2021):

 

 

Wave of European Opposition to Benchmark's Imidacloprid (BMK08) - the tide turns against neonicotinoids in salmon pharming!https://t.co/NwAcL440Mo
A motion against Imidacloprid was adopted yesterday (28 May 2021) by the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment #BMK08 pic.twitter.com/cU2nERnWWU

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 29, 2021

 

 

 

The Guardian reported (27 May 2021):

 

 

 

"It’s like the wild west" said @DaveGoulson "These chemicals are incredibly poisonous – the novichok for insects. It takes a billionth of a gram to harm aquatic life, so even tiny traces would have major impacts on marine life" @guardian @WeAreBenchmark https://t.co/OzouYaXCEk

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

 

 

Read more via:

• Wave of European Opposition to Benchmark's Imidacloprid (BMK08) - the tide turns against neonicotinoids in salmon pharming!
• European Opposition to Neonicotinoid Contamination of Farmed Salmon - is BMK08 (Imidacloprid) dead in the water?
• The Guardian: "‘Novichok for insects’ may be approved for Scottish fish farms"
• Who are the toxic team lurking behind Benchmark's BMK08 (Imidacloprid) in Scottish salmon pharming?
• The Ferret: "Bee-killing pesticide treatment for fish farms backed by Scottish Government"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon - Benchmark's magic trick making the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid disappear!
• Rumsfeldian Fish Philosophy - Things We Know We Know, Things We Now Know We Don't Know & Things We Don't Know We Don't Know About 'Scottish' Salmon!
• SEPA ordered by Commissioner to Disclose 'Commercially Confidential' Information on CleanTreat & BMK08 (Imidacloprid) by 7 June
• Warning: Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming "Clears Another Hurdle" With European MRL
• Warning: Imidacloprid Moves A Step Closer to Commercial Use in Salmon Farming
• Nasty Neonicotinoid Plagues Salmon Farming in 2021
• Toxic Neonicotinoid "Close to Commercial Launch" in Salmon Farming!
• New Science Dogs Approval of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid for Scottish Salmon!
• Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming?
• Secret Salmon - On the Trail of Imidacloprid Use in Scotland!
• British Wildlife: "Neonics in Salmon Farming - Alarm Bells Are Ringing"
• Caveat Chile - toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (BMK08) coming soon!
• Toxic Politics - Meet the Scottish Government's Minister for Sinister Chemicals
• Imidacloprid Licensed for Use by Mowi in Loch Ailort?
• Further Scientific Opposition to Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Patent lifts lid on neonicotinoid use in salmon farming
• Horrible History: Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Scientific Opposition to Neonicotinoid Use in Salmon Farming
• Backgrounder: "Imidacloprid - A Neonicotinoid Insecticide Toxic to Aquatic Life"
• BBC Farming Today on "Neonicotinoids in Salmon Farming"
• Sunday Times: "Outlawed insecticide may be used on Scottish salmon"
• FOI letter on Scientific Concerns re. Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming
• Scottish Greens "Deeply Concerned" at Mowi's Field Trial of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in Loch Ailort
• Letter to the Prince of Wales re. bee-killing Imidacloprid use at royal warrant holder Mowi
• Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid?
• Follow the Salmoney - the Norwegian tobacco billionaire behind the Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid
• ENDS Report: "Calls for greater transparency over ‘toxic’ new fish farm product"
• Letter to SEPA: Please Come Clean on Imidacloprid!
• Letter to Scottish Ministers, SEPA & the VMD re. Imidacloprid
• FOI requests on Imidacloprid to SEPA, VMD & the Scottish Government
• Revealed: Toxic Neonicotinoid Insecticide Used to 'CleanTreat' Lousy Salmon
• Please Come Clean on BMK08!
• Sunday Times: "Official fears revealed over toxic threat of salmon trade"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon
• CleanTreat FOI Disclosures by the Scottish Government to Scottish Salmon Watch
• Media Backgrounder: Chemically Embalmed Scottish Salmon
• All is Not Well With Sick Scottish Salmon

 

 

 

Please take the pledge to boycott pharmed salmon! https://t.co/srvE2G4DEs#Boycott #Toxic #Salmon pic.twitter.com/nw547JStIF

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 9, 2021

 

Lying err I mean Lobbying for 'Scottish' Salmon!

 

 

 

 

Lying err I mean Lobbying for 'Scottish' Salmon! https://t.co/4V51PRQkCx @NatTylerDigital
"This activist was doing an illegal and unsafe job" claimed @SSPOsays lobbyist in a phone call to @GettyImages. Then he phones the photographer @germanocean denying it! @BBCDouglasF

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 8, 2021

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch reported last month (30 May 2021):

 

 

Here's the story behind the story - detailing how a lobbyist at 'Scottish' Salmon persuaded the BBC to ditch a photo detailing secret filming at a salmon farm @BBCNews @BBCScotlandNews @GettyImages @SSPOsays @NatTylerDigital @germanocean @BBCDouglasF https://t.co/FXCmv2cV1j #BBC pic.twitter.com/TqNQ45VDaL

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 30, 2021

 

 

 

Here's the photos taken by Colin McPherson which Nathan Tyler - lobbyist for 'Scottish' Salmon - claimed were 'illegal':

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the photo of Mowi's 'Bay of the Dead Heads' salmon farm deleted by the BBC:

 

 

 

BBC News delete photo of environmental campaigner filming inside a salmon farm with a Go Pro - did the Norwegian Salmafia complain? @SSPOsays @tavishscott @HamishMacdonell @BBCNewsScotland @BBCNews https://t.co/yfK9P4hefz

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 28, 2021

 

 

 

In April 2021, the chief lobbyist for the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation was caught lying on the BBC Scotland's 'The Nine'.

 

 

Lobbyist for 'Scottish' Salmon Caught Telling Pack of Lies on BBC Scotland! https://t.co/L0V3L4ubNu @tavishscott @SSPOsays @mmgeissler @BBCScotNine @marinescotland @salmon_scottish @seaspiracy
Maybe Tavish Scott should just stop talking bollocks? pic.twitter.com/Kz2vNM0NvE

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 7, 2021

 

 

 

MILLIONS of farmed salmon are dying from lice infestations, chlamydia, heart disease, anaemia etc.

The CEO of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation @SSPOsays, Mr @TavishScott says it's a

"Pack of lies".

Make up you own mind who's the LIAR here. pic.twitter.com/C0T1aId4pn

— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) April 19, 2021

 

 

Scottish salmon "die from lice infestatations, Chlamydia, heart disease, anaemia" @seaspiracy "Is that true?" @BBCScotNine "No, it's absolutely not true," replied @tavishscott "It's one of the pack of lies that these extreme activists produce all the time" https://t.co/L0V3L4ubNu pic.twitter.com/P7cBaRB6Yg

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 7, 2021

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch reported earlier today:

 

 

Pancreas Disease & Cardiomyopathy Syndrome ravage Scottish Salmon @marinescotland https://t.co/UZeHyU98Pk
How many 'Scottish' salmon die due to infectious diseases? @tavishscott @HamishMacdonell @salmon_scottish @scotseafarms @ScotlandMowi @SSPOsays @MairiGougeon @MairiMcAllan pic.twitter.com/0wudAWyXCS

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 8, 2021

 

 

 

Read more via:

BBC delete 'illegal' photo after complaint by Norwegian Salmafia!

Scottish Salmon Hires New 'Head of Communications' to Combat Extreme Activism 

Lobbyist for 'Scottish' Salmon Caught Telling Pack of Lies on BBC Scotland 

Policing 'Scottish' Salmon - when is 'extreme activism' judged trespass?

 

 

 

Fancy putting lipstick on a toxic, diseased & 99% foreign-owned 'Scottish' salmon? Then hurry up and apply for the new job as Head of Communications at Scottish Salmon! https://t.co/thprDnE7JX @HamishMacdonell @AthollDuncan @tavishscott @SSPOsays @NatTylerDigital @ScotlandMowi pic.twitter.com/VgaQWxL5j2

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 21, 2021

 

 

 

The Ferret: "Police investigate allegation seal was illegally shot by fish farm"

 

 

Police Scotland is investigating an incident in March when a seal was allegedly shot at a fish farm off a west coast island. https://t.co/5lUApkTIdK

— The Ferret (@FerretScot) June 8, 2021

 

 

The Ferret reported (8 June 2021):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Was a seal killed illegally at your @rspcaassured salmon farm in Loch Spelve on 17 March 2021? @scotseafarms
A complaint has been submitted @policescotland including details how a pup was orphaned outside the cage - what did you do with the dead body? @strandings @marinescotland https://t.co/8NzYsWLOpF

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 8, 2021

 

 

Has the RSPCA kicked @scotseafarms out of @rspcaassured for illegally killing a seal in Loch Spelve on 17 March 2021? https://t.co/SX9fsSONf7 @policescotland @marinescotland @NOAA @RSPCA_official @RSPCAChris @SSPCA_Mike @SSPCA_Kirsteen @RSPCA_PATeam @BenMacpherson @onekindtweet

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 8, 2021

 

 

"Those found guilty of breaking the new laws could face a maximum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both" (@scotgov) https://t.co/SX9fsSONf7 @FerretScot
Which members of @rspcaassured 'Scottish' Salmon have killed seals illegally? @scotseafarms @SSPOsays

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 8, 2021

 

 

Was your thorough investigation led by Mr Magoo? Did you question your staff at Loch Spelve? pic.twitter.com/WWyF6uQCCA

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 8, 2021

 

 

 

Did you check under the salmon farm in Loch Spelve for the body? Or maybe the carcass was weighed down by heavy chains? Or was the dead seal wrapped in plastic and dumped off site? pic.twitter.com/dRVexivkHs

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 8, 2021

 

"We carried out a thorough investigation and found no evidence to support your allegation" claim @scotseafarms in relation to a seal killed in Loch Spelve @rspcaassured salmon farm @SSPOsays @LeroySeafood https://t.co/Wz1TnzHiC5 @FerretScot @policescotland @marinescotland pic.twitter.com/OtipkWKlQt

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 8, 2021

 

"The killing of seals is morally bankrupt at the best of times. But to continue to slaughter seals illegally after the Scottish Government banned seal killing in January is abhorrent" https://t.co/SX9fsSONf7 @FerretScot @NOAA pic.twitter.com/7sCQRQzVQy

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 9, 2021

 

 

 

"When workers see the reality of salmon farming the only way they can do anything about it without losing their jobs is to tip-off organisations like ours"https://t.co/SX9fsSONf7
Calling all whistleblowers!https://t.co/GFtwHwbOrl@salmon_scottish @LochDuartSalmon @CookeScotland pic.twitter.com/Abz7qWv2w6

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 9, 2021

 

 

Read more via:

• RSPCA Sponsored Seal Killing Continues Despite US Ban?
• The Ferret: "£10,000 reward for information on illegal seal killing after police asked to investigate deaths"
• £10,000 Reward Offered - Illegal Killing of Seals by Scottish Salmon Farms in the Cross Hairs!
• FOI Disclosure: Seal Licence Breaches by Salmon Farms (reply by Scottish Government on 1 April 2021)
• Photo Exclusive: Seals 'Executed' by Scottish Salmon
• FOI disclosure from Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme
• Police Scotland refuse to name 112 marksmen licenced to kill seals!
• Sunday Times: "Sharp rise in seal shootings blew hole in permit scheme - Officials were warned that salmon farmers ‘had no willingness or intention’ to collect detailed data"
• Parliamentary Report: "ADD Use in the Aquaculture Sector"
• Scientific Study into Impact of Low Frequency ADDs Silenced!
• Calling All Whistleblowers - Please pass on photos of dead seals killed at salmon farms!
• Daily Mirror: "'Nearly 80 seals were legally shot in Scotland in 2020 – highest number in seven years'"
• Scottish Salmon's #1 Seal Killer - Norway's 'Scottish' Sea Farms Named & Shamed!
• Official Data: 1,000+ seals killed by salmon farms since 2011!
• The Ferret: "Salmon companies rapped for breaking rules on shooting seals"
• Caught in the Cross-Hairs: Illegal Killing of Seals by Scottish Salmon Farms!
• FOI opens sealed documents on killing by salmon farms
• Pulling the Plug on ADD on salmon farms - is turning down the volume enough to comply with the law?
• Greedy Salmon Farmers Demand £13 Million Compensation for Seal Attacks!
• £5,000 reward offered for information on illegal shooting of seals
• Victory Sealed After 50-Year Campaign - But the Battle to Save Marine Mammals from Salmon Farms Continues!
• The Guardian: "Scottish salmon farmers to be banned from shooting seals"
• Photo Gallery: Seals Against Salmon Farms!
• Caught Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea
• The Ferret: "Seal scarers used by fish farms branded 'sonic torture'"
• GenusWave 'Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology' - in compliance with the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act??
• Seal shooting at salmon farms doubles before ban
• Ban on seal shooting must be watertight
• Greens want ban on seal scarers
• Fergus Ewing - Minister for the Promotion of Norwegian Salmon Farming
• Seals in the Cross-Hairs of the Scottish Parliament
• Scottish Salmon's Slaughter of Seals Has Not Stopped!
• Sunday Herald: "Revealed: Scottish Government bid to exempt salmon farming from US seal-killing ban"
• RSPCA in firing line over Marine Harvest's seal-killing spree in Scotland - 118 seals killed by Marine Harvest's RSPCA Assured farms since 2011
• Marine Harvest: Scotland's #1 Seal Killer
• All At Sea: Seal-Killing Salmon Farms
• Scottish Salmon Blinded by Seal Killing
• The Two Billion Dollar Salmon Ban
• Closing the Net On 'Seal-Friendly' Scottish Salmon - last orders on the RSPCA's abuse of 'last resort' killing of seals?
• Seal shooting by fish farms to be banned to save exports to US
• Cecil the Seal Killers Named & Shamed in Scotland - Call for Boycott of "Seal Unfriendly" Scottish Salmon
• Media Splash for Seal-Killing Salmon Farms!
• VICTORY: Disclosure of Seal-Killing Salmon Farm Data Ordered by 21 August
• Scottish Salmon's Secret Seal Killers! - FOI refusal prompts call for boycott of farmed salmon
• Lethal Scottish Farmed Salmon: Serial Seal Killers Named & Shamed!
• Scottish Salmon's Seal Killers Named & Shamed!

 

 

So are you still killing seals (as permitted under the RSPCA's farmed salmon standard)? https://t.co/w43FodMABj @RSPCA_PATeam @RSPCAChris @RSPCA_official @GeorgeMonbiot @ChrisGPackham @BillOddie @PeterEgan6 pic.twitter.com/l6xaAdPWPb

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 13, 2021

 

 

 

The latest version of the RSPCA's farmed salmon standards - published in February 2021 - makes for alarming reading (especially if you're unlucky to be a seal living near a salmon farm) @rspcaassured @RSPCA_PATeam @RSPCAChris @RSPCA_official @scotseafarms https://t.co/64dNCuCC3Z pic.twitter.com/XESYFQYR3k

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 13, 2021

 

 

 

How do you protect your RSPCA Assured salmon since it is now illegal to kills seals? Does your Loch Spelve salmon farm have anti-predator nets? How many seals have you shot & killed since 31 January 2021 when it became illegal to kill seals?https://t.co/64dNCuCC3Z pic.twitter.com/x4incJbHyS

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 17, 2021

 

Heart & Pancreas Disease Ravage Scottish Salmon (according to new Marine Scotland Science report)

 

 

Pancreas Disease & Cardiomyopathy Syndrome ravage Scottish Salmon @marinescotland https://t.co/UZeHyU98Pk
How many 'Scottish' salmon die due to infectious diseases? @tavishscott @HamishMacdonell @salmon_scottish @scotseafarms @ScotlandMowi @SSPOsays @MairiGougeon @MairiMcAllan pic.twitter.com/0wudAWyXCS

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 8, 2021

 

 

 

Download the Marine Scotland Science report in full online here - including:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fish Farming Expert reported (8 June 2021):

 

 

 

Read more via:

Lobbyist for 'Scottish' Salmon Caught Telling Pack of Lies on BBC Scotland

Norway Publishes Annual Disease Data - Why Not Scotland?

Update: 25 Million Mass Mortalities on Scottish Salmon Farms

 

 

Norway publishes an annual report of diseases, viruses, pathogens & bacteria on salmon farms - including maps, table & analysis. Why doesn't Scotland? @FergusEwingSNP @strathearnrose @GreenerScotland @marinescotland @Folketrygdfond @NFdep @fiskeridir https://t.co/HedDyKYyjt https://t.co/07CZIPb8N6 pic.twitter.com/3NQj7N085n

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 13, 2021

 

 

Scottish salmon "die from lice infestatations, Chlamydia, heart disease, anaemia" @seaspiracy "Is that true?" @BBCScotNine "No, it's absolutely not true," replied @tavishscott "It's one of the pack of lies that these extreme activists produce all the time" https://t.co/L0V3L4ubNu pic.twitter.com/P7cBaRB6Yg

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 7, 2021

BBC delete 'illegal' photo after complaint by Norwegian Salmafia!

 

Here's the story behind the story - detailing how a lobbyist at 'Scottish' Salmon persuaded the BBC to ditch a photo detailing secret filming at a salmon farm @BBCNews @BBCScotlandNews @GettyImages @SSPOsays @NatTylerDigital @germanocean @BBCDouglasF https://t.co/FXCmv2cV1j #BBC pic.twitter.com/TqNQ45VDaL

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 30, 2021

 

Here's the back-story behind a BBC News story - detailing how a lobbyist at the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO) persuaded the BBC to ditch a photo daring to show secret filming at a salmon farm.

 

 

 

"This activist was doing an illegal and unsafe job," claimed Nathan Tyler of the SSPO in an email on Friday morning (28 May 2021) to Getty Images after the BBC published a news story accompanied by the offending photo.  Here's the contact details Nathan gave:

 

 

 

"We received a call from a representative of a Scottish salmon company," said Getty Images in an email on Friday morning.  "It is not happy with the information on these images.  They are requesting more precise details". 

 

 

 

 

Photographer Colin McPherson - who took the offending photos available on Getty's website - replied:

 

 

"The photographs in question shows activist(s) from Scottish Salmon Watch mounting an operation at a salmon farm in Scotland.  I attended this as an editorial photographer and my captioning reflects what I saw and photographed.  I am not in a position to comment as to the legality or otherwise of what the activist(s) were doing.  My photography of this was legitimate news gathering.  I believe that I did not break any laws in taking these photographs and I will defend robustly any suggestion to the contrary and anything which tarnishes my reputation as a professional photographer which I have built up over the past 30 years.  I suggest the complainant takes up his case with the people I photographed.  In the meantime, I will not be changing any of the captions as they are entirely accurate.  I take it this is the reason the BBC removed my images as illustration from the article online this morning?"

 

 

 

 

I posted on Facebook on Friday (28 May 2021):

 

 

 

And I Tweeted:

 

BBC News delete photo of environmental campaigner filming inside a salmon farm with a Go Pro - did the Norwegian Salmafia complain? @SSPOsays @tavishscott @HamishMacdonell @BBCNewsScotland @BBCNews https://t.co/yfK9P4hefz

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 28, 2021

 

 

 

Here's the original BBC News story - before the photo was changed - published ca. 8am on Friday morning:

 

 

 

A few hours later the BBC had deleted the photo and replaced it:

 

 

 

Scottish Green party cooperation talks with SNP set alarm bells ringing for fish farms and farmers:https://t.co/V7B8zNtyJF

— Douglas Fraser✒️🎥🎙 (@BBCDouglasF) May 28, 2021

 

 

 

 

In fact, the site pictured in the offending photo was Mowi's 'Bay of the Dead Heads' salmon farm in the Sound of Jura which was rapped in 2019 for breaking welfare laws.   Scottish Salmon Watch published shocking video footage of welfare abuse at the Mowi salmon farm in July 2019 (when Colin McPherson took the offending photo):

 

 

 

 

Our video evidence and photos of dead and dying 'cleaner fish' prompted an investigation by the Animal & Plant Heath Agency.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Further video footage of dead salmon being dredged up from the bottom of Mowi's cages at 'Bay of the Dead Heads' was published by tourist operator David Ainsley in September 2019. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ferret and Sunday National reported in November 2019:

 

 

Read in full via "Salmon farming firm under fire over fish welfare after 700,000 deaths"

 

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in May 2020 - following a FOI disclosure by the Animal & Plant Health Agency:

 

 

Censored: Welfare Abuse on Salmon Farms - redacted FOI documents reveal welfare breaches of Animal Health & Welfare Act @rspcaassured @MowiScotlandLtd https://t.co/oJ5ad7XxZw @APHAgovuk @marinescotland @ProfCMDwyer @SSPCA_Mike @SSPOsays @ChrisGPackham @markruskell @scotgp pic.twitter.com/7Fr5ANyTC4

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 23, 2020

 

 

 

 

Download letter from APHA to Mowi in full online here

 

 

 

It is not suprising then that the SSPO - which counts Mowi as their #1 fee-paying member - is keen to keep photographers and "extreme activists" away from their farms. 

 

 

Policing 'Scottish' Salmon - when is 'extreme activism' judged trespass? https://t.co/vSlR3rWf8a@policescotland @SSPOsays @ScotlandMowi @alex4salmon @seashepherd @CaptPaulWatson @ewangkennedy @salmon_scottish @pamfoundation @seaspiracy @patagonia @Ecohustler @ciwf @onekindtweet pic.twitter.com/InlPXnPpsE

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 28, 2021

 

 

One of Mowi's salmon farms at Gorsten in Loch Linnhe is featured in Netflix's global hit 'Seaspiracy' - a site accredited as 'welfare friendly' by RSPCA Assured and certified as 'environmentally friendly' via the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.

 

Netflix's 'Seaspiracy' Exposes Disease-Ridden Scottish Salmon – As Sponsored by the RSPCA & Aquaculture Stewardship Council! https://t.co/NiySHYotBu@seaspiracy @rspcaassured @ScotlandMowi @ASC_aqua @vivacampaigns @Ecohustler @SSPOsays @iamalitabrizi @media_ciwf @philip_ciwf pic.twitter.com/32CcvHUUKH

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 31, 2021

 

 

 

Here's the video footage which Mowi and the SSPO does not want the public to see.

 

 

 

 

The SSPO are well connected when it comes to television.  Fish Farmer reported in August 2019.

 

 

 

 

It is not known if the SSPO chairman was involved in various BBC investigations of salmon farms including BBC Panorama, BBC Countryfile and the BBC One Show - which included secret video footage shot inside salmon farms.

 

 

 

 

 

How can you even start to explain yourselves?@tavishscott @RSPCA_official @TerryAHearn @MowiScotlandLtd @salmon_scottish @FergusEwingMSP @strathearnrose @MairiGougeon @Feorlean @D1HAJ https://t.co/FRguw9wvqR pic.twitter.com/JEJx1Q5ZJE

— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) December 7, 2020

 

 

26% mortality rate on Scottish salmon farms (in just the sea phase of production) - that means one in four RSPCA certified salmon are dying a horrible death! @rspcaassured @SSPOsays @marinescotland https://t.co/G4dXeILsTk @BBCCountryfile @joe_crowley @SalmonTroutCons @scotgp pic.twitter.com/4Nm8CV3fLA

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 7, 2020

 

 

 

Here's Nathan Tyler's LinkedIn public profile which includes a stint at STV News:

 

 

 

 

STV News reported earlier this week on the death of Mowi worker Clive Hendry.

 

"Mowi Scotland Ltd did not have an effective marine safety management system and lacked staff with the experience to oversee its marine operations" @ScotlandMowi @MowiScotlandLtd @maibgovuk
How much will Mowi be fined for their negligence & lack of safety? @GreenerScotland https://t.co/OoIUcdTTpI

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 26, 2021

 

STV News also reported on Scottish Salmon Watch's secret filming at The Scottish Salmon Company's disease-ridden salmon farm in Loch Shieldaig in June 2019 - even using video footage gathered by 'illegal' and 'unsafe' filming!

 

 

 

 

 

Creel fisherman Angus Campbell told STV News in October 2012:

 

“The reports on Sepa indicate that there are hundreds of tonnes of fish dying in these sites.  Last week we saw a load of 26 tonnes heading down to Uist to get buried. It’s just incredible the amount of dead fish coming out of these sites.”

 

 

 

 

The BBC 'One Show' featured the North Uist illegal burial site in 2018 - as featured in The Times on Thursday (27 May 2021).

 

 

“The authorities have turned a blind eye to the continued dumping of diseased farmed salmon in landfill for well over a decade,” said Staniford. “Scotland’s secret salmon graveyard stinks to high heaven & must be shut down now” @thetimes @GreenerScotland https://t.co/PUxDL1BKl1

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

 

There are so many bad stories about Scottish salmon that even with a team of highly paid lobbyists it is impossible to bury all the bad news.  BBC News reported (26 May 2021):

 

"It is just devastating to me to think he had the most horrific death" @ScotlandMowi @BBCNews @BBCScotlandNews @MowiScotlandLtd @maibgovuk https://t.co/Ty2a3Vnt7q @SSPOsays
How much will Mowi be fined for their negligence & lack of safety? @GreenerScotland @marinescotland

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 26, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

BBC News reported in January 2012:

 

 

Nathan Tyler's job is to keep bad stories out of the news.    Lobbyists for the Norwegian Salmafia fiercely protect the corporate interests of the big six salmon farming companies - predominantly owned/controlled by Norwegian salmoney - who together account for 99% of 'Scottish' salmon farming production.

 

 

 

 

Here's more photos objected to by Nathan Tyler, lobbyist at the SSPO.

 

 

 

 

Colin McPherson has featured salmon farming issues for two decades.  Here's photos Colin took in 2015 featuring a protest outside M&S - including Alison Johnstone MSP (now Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament).

 

[Protestors including Alison Johnstone MSP handing out leaflets outside M&S in Edinburgh: photo by Colin McPherson - download high res image online here]

 

 

[Photo by Colin McPherson - download high res image online here]

 

 

 

And here's photos Colin took in 2018 during a visit to Mowi's salmon farm in Loch Leven and The Scottish Salmon Company's salmon farm at Quarry Point in Loch Fyne.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The SSPO and their members including Scottish Sea Farms and Mowi want campaigners and photographers to stay away from their farms even though there is little legal basis to do so.  In January 2020, Norwegian-owned Mowi warned "activists" against coming close to salmon farms.  "As activists continue to sidestep the democratic process in favour of interrupting work spaces, governments must step up to protect the health and safety of employees working within the laws of the country," wrote Mowi Scotland's Director of Communications in Fish Farmer magazine (16 January 2020). 

 

"Leave Our Farms Alone" Demand @MowiScotlandLtd Here's What They're Hiding & Why Mowi Want the Public to Keep Away! https://t.co/alqQbTYax4 @H_S_E @ScottishEPA @APHAgovuk @marinescotland @nature_scot @MCA_media @FergusEwingMSP @strathearnrose @GreenerScotland @scotgp @SSPOsays pic.twitter.com/2wgbgHvgh6

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 17, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

In 2019 and 2020, Scottish Sea Farms even persuaded Police Scotland to act as a private security guard to keep people away.

 

 

 

 

Thankfully, following a complaint filed by Scottish Salmon Watch, Police Scotland apologized in October 2020.

 

 

Landmark Victory for Surveillance of Salmon Farms - Police Scotland apologises for wrongly protecting @scotseafarms from public access for filming & diving https://t.co/FJN8LmAX2w @policescotland pic.twitter.com/kU4IKfmGA5

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 15, 2020

 

 

 

Mowi has repeatedly threatened legal action against secret filming but since there is no law of trespass in Scotland this Norwegian-owned company may find taking a legal case in the Scottish courts somewhat tricky.

 

Mowi Scotland: "will be forced to take further action unless you co-operate with its requests & desist from further unauthorised access....no choice but to take steps to protect the Company’s Sites, and its rights in relation thereto, through the courts" https://t.co/TRIgbdBz1q pic.twitter.com/PNZpWmva3f

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 25, 2020

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch will continue to conduct secret filming inside salmon farms and will continue to lift the lid on disease-ridden salmon farms - and very much welcomes photographers like Colin McPherson to join us on our safe and perfectly legal investigations in public waters and in public places.

 

 

 

 

 

A spokesperson for RSPCA Assured said: “We are very concerned by some of this footage and have suspended the farm whilst we urgently investigate” @rspcaassured @scotseafarms @APHAgovuk @marinescotland @LeroySeafood @Folketrygdfond @SSPCA_Mike @ciwf https://t.co/55rqvU9n4R pic.twitter.com/ajRqyWUuh7

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 14, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It seems that salmon farm workers are more interested in drinking beer than in upholding fish welfare laws.

 

 

Sunday evening, Tobermory, The Magnificent 7 (yes, 7, not 6) Mowi guys off on a jolly. No social distancing and obv. not a "dry" boat! You can't see the beers the others were clutching. They must be in the same support bubble! pic.twitter.com/5dowZM6qtg

— Andrew Holder (@andrholder) September 22, 2020

 

 

 

We also look forward to further debate with the Norwegian Salmafia who control ca. 80% of 'Scottish' salmon farming - including their chief executive Tavish Scott who the BBC seems content to allow telling lies on BBC Scotland's 'The Nine'.

 

 

Lobbyist for 'Scottish' Salmon Caught Telling Pack of Lies on BBC Scotland! https://t.co/L0V3L4ubNu @tavishscott @SSPOsays @mmgeissler @BBCScotNine @marinescotland @salmon_scottish @seaspiracy
Maybe Tavish Scott should just stop talking bollocks? pic.twitter.com/Kz2vNM0NvE

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 7, 2021

 

 

MILLIONS of farmed salmon are dying from lice infestations, chlamydia, heart disease, anaemia etc.

The CEO of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation @SSPOsays, Mr @TavishScott says it's a

"Pack of lies".

Make up you own mind who's the LIAR here. pic.twitter.com/C0T1aId4pn

— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) April 19, 2021

 

 

 

From: BBC Complaints <bbc_complaints_website@contact.bbc.co.uk>
Date: Thu, May 20, 2021 at 10:07 AM
Subject: BBC Complaints - Case number CAS-6694812-X3J2F1
To: Donald Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>

Reference CAS-6694812-X3J2F1

 

Dear Mr Staniford

Thank you for getting in touch about The Nine broadcast on 6 April 2021. We know people appreciate a prompt response and unfortunately we’ve taken longer to reply than usual – please accept our apologies.

Having now discussed your concerns with the production team, we are satisfied that both you and Tavish Scott were given appropriate and fair opportunities on the programme. You were both able to offer your views and challenge points being made.

We believe our presenter, Martin Geissler, controlled the discussion - one that was heated throughout - very well. We are satisfied you were afforded an extensive opportunity to respond during the programme.

Thank you, once again, for taking the time to contact us.

Kind regards

BBC Complaints Team 
www.bbc.co.uk/complaints

 

 

 

YOUR COMPLAINT: 

Tavish Scott lying on BBC Scotland's 'The Nine'  

How can Tavish Scott's blatant lies on BBC Scotland's 'The Nine' (6 April 2021) be permitted to stand without correction?

Details via:

"Lobbyist for 'Scottish' Salmon Caught Telling Pack of Lies on BBC Scotland": https://donstaniford.typepad.com/my-blog/2021/04/lobbyist-for-norwegian-salmon-farmers-caught-lying-on-bbc-scotland.html


Tweet via: https://twitter.com/TheGAAIA/status/1384126263766380547

 

 

 

 

Some of the worst images of welfare abuse in salmon farming - so gory that @APHAgovuk have to redact them.

And @tavishscott from @SSPOsays says it’s all “a pack of lies” https://t.co/rVGKmusZpw pic.twitter.com/7xxtwMkAiY

— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) April 15, 2021

 

 

 

Tavish Scott has long been in bed with the BBC.  The Herald reported in 2004:

 

 

 

The Times reported in 2004:

 

 

 

Tavish's relationship with the BBC has proved to be fruitful.  The Sun reported in 2008:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When he's not in bed with the BBC, Tavish likes to dress up in Viking regalia - perfectly suited to his role as chief lobbyist for the Norwegian Salmafia.

 

 

 

Thankfully, the BBC has not always allowed itself to be kowtowed, bullied, lobbied and manipulated by the Norwegian Salmafia. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The BBC has even featured "extreme activists" much to the chagrin of lobbyists like Nathan Tyler, Tavish Scott and Hamish Macdonell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The BBC has even published photos which the salmon farming lobby does not like.  BBC News reported in 2008:

 

 

 

 

No amount of lobbying and behind the scences salmon shenanigins can stop the truth coming out about the disease-ridden salmon farming industry - honesty is always the best policy!

 

 

BBC News: "Director of Scottish Salmon Watch Don Staniford called on retailers to be more 'honest' over the origins of their salmon products" https://t.co/RungqPbUF4 @sainsburys @Tesco @marksandspencer @waitrose @AldiUK @coopuk @LidlGB @Morrisons @asda @rspcaassured @ASC_aqua

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 15, 2021

 

 

 

So the next time you read a story - or maybe more importantly, don't read a story - the fingerprints of lobbyists at 'Scottish' Salmon will have been all over it. 

 

 

Read more via:

Scottish Salmon Hires New 'Head of Communications' to Combat Extreme Activism 

Lobbyist for 'Scottish' Salmon Caught Telling Pack of Lies on BBC Scotland 

Policing 'Scottish' Salmon - when is 'extreme activism' judged trespass?

 

 

Fancy putting lipstick on a toxic, diseased & 99% foreign-owned 'Scottish' salmon? Then hurry up and apply for the new job as Head of Communications at Scottish Salmon! https://t.co/thprDnE7JX @HamishMacdonell @AthollDuncan @tavishscott @SSPOsays @NatTylerDigital @ScotlandMowi pic.twitter.com/VgaQWxL5j2

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 21, 2021

 

 

[Protestors including Alison Johnstone MSP handing out leaflets outside M&S in Edinburgh: photo by Colin McPherson - download high res image online here]

It seems that salmon farm workers are more interested in drinking beer than in upholding fish welfare laws.

 

 

Sunday evening, Tobermory, The Magnificent 7 (yes, 7, not 6) Mowi guys off on a jolly. No social distancing and obv. not a "dry" boat! You can't see the beers the others were clutching. They must be in the same support bubble! pic.twitter.com/5dowZM6qtg

— Andrew Holder (@andrholder) September 22, 2020

 

 

It seems that salmon farm workers are more interested in drinking beer than in upholding fish welfare laws.

 

 

Sunday evening, Tobermory, The Magnificent 7 (yes, 7, not 6) Mowi guys off on a jolly. No social distancing and obv. not a "dry" boat! You can't see the beers the others were clutching. They must be in the same support bubble! pic.twitter.com/5dowZM6qtg

— Andrew Holder (@andrholder) September 22, 2020

 

 

Wave of European Opposition to Benchmark's Imidacloprid (BMK08) - the tide turns against neonicotinoids in salmon pharming!

 

Wave of European Opposition to Benchmark's Imidacloprid (BMK08) - the tide turns against neonicotinoids in salmon pharming!https://t.co/NwAcL440Mo
A motion against Imidacloprid was adopted yesterday (28 May 2021) by the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment #BMK08 pic.twitter.com/cU2nERnWWU

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 29, 2021

 

 

A motion against Imidacloprid was adopted yesterday (28 May 2021) by the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Fafety which seriously undermines Benchmark's plans to use the banned neonicotinoid in salmon farming. 

 

 

 

The motion for resolution against Imidacloprid now goes in front of the European Parliament and is expected to be adopted as the formal EU position in the June plenary.   The vote in support of the resolution against the use of Imidaclprid - dubbed 'Novichok for insects' this week By Professor Dave Goulson in The Guardian - was carried by 49 to 27 with 2 absentions. 

 

 

Benchmark's claim last month to investors on the London Stock Exchange that BMK08 (the secret name given to Imidacloprid in November 2019 - called Ectosan when unveiled in 2017 and D10 Aquatic Blast in a financial pitch in 2014) had been "ratified in EU law" and their failure to disclose to investors the fact that Ectosan/BMK08 is actually the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid now appears as deceptive as the Ponzi scheme peddled by convicted fraudster Bernie Madoff. 

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch wrote earlier today (29 May 2021) to the London Stock Exchange and investors in Benchmark to correct the information issued by Benchmark on 16 April 2021.

 

 

 

Here's our email:

 

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, May 29, 2021 at 12:38 PM
Subject: Misleading financial starements by Benchmark re. BMK08 (Imidacloprid)
To: <newsroom@lseg.com>, <firm.queries@fca.org.uk>
Cc: Rachel Aninakwah <rachel.aninakwah@bmkholdings.com>, <nfo@benchmarkplc.com>, <benchmark@mhpc.com>

 

Please consider this a formal complaint against Benchmark (copied in here) for misleading statements and the omission of crucial market information regarding BMK08/Ectosan (the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid - described in an article published this week by the Guardian as 'Novichok for insects'). 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch honestly believes that Benchmark is guilty of misrepresentation and non-disclosure in relation to BMK08/Ectosan.  Benchmark has patently failed to inform shareholders, investors, the public, the stock exchange and the media that BMK08/Ectosan is in fact the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid.

 

For example:

 

- Benchmark's main web-page omits to mention the fact that BMK08 is imidacloprid:

https://www.benchmarkplc.com/what-we-do/animal-health/

 

- When Benchmark first marketed Imidacloprid in December 2017 it was hidden behind the trade name Ectosan with the claim that it had "no environmental impact":

https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/full?dockey=1323-13461593-7TRJ6JLUJF6F4SP9S18J8GKP4V

 

- In November 2019, Benchmark re-named Ectosan as BMK08 but still failed to disclose the fact that it was the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid and claiming that it had "zero environmental impact" with regulatory approval expected in late 2020:

https://www.benchmarkplc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Trading-update-presentation-2811-final-1.pdf

 

- On 17 March 2020, Scottish Salmon Watch and The Ferret publicly reported for the first time that BMK08/Ectosan was Imidacloprid:

https://theferret.scot/fish-farm-companies-bee-harming-pesticide/

https://donstaniford.typepad.com/my-blog/2020/03/revealed-toxic-neonicotinoid-insecticide-used-to-cleantreat-lousy-scottish-salmon-.html

 

- On 20 March 2020, Benchmark first disclosed that BMK08 was Imidacloprid (this appears to be the only time and public statement from Benchmark admitting that Ectosan/BMK08 was Imidacloprid):

https://www.benchmarkplc.com/news/bmk08/

 

- Financial updates by Benchmark have failed to disclose the fact that BMK08 is Imidacloprid:

https://www.benchmarkplc.com/investors/regulatory-news-alerts/

 

- Financial reports - quarterly and annual - have failed to mention the fact that BMK08/Ectosan is Imidacloprid:

https://www.benchmarkplc.com/investors/reports-presentations/

 

- A regulatory update by Benchmark in September 2020 failed to disclose the fact that BMK08 is Imidacloprid and claimed that the banned neonicotinoid was "safe to use":

https://polaris.brighterir.com/public/benchmark/news/rns/story/wv8n6qx

 

- A regulatory update by Benchmark in March 2021 failed to disclose BMK08 was Imidacloprid suggesting that the product was environmentally friendly and sustainable:

https://polaris.brighterir.com/public/benchmark/news/rns/story/x2j346w

 

- A regulatory update by Benchmark in April 2021 not only failed to disclose BMK08 as Imidacloprid but wrongly stated that an MRL "has now been ratified under EU law":

https://polaris.brighterir.com/public/benchmark/news/rns/story/xpp72mx

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch therefore questions whether Benchmark has breached any financial reporting and disclosure requirements. 

 

Certainly, Scottish Salmon Watch believes that Benchmark misled the financial market - including the London Stock Exchange - in a press release issued on 16 April 2021 (see enclosed below along with an email to Benchmark).

 

Furthermore, Benchmark has failed to notify investors that Imidacloprid was banned in 2018 and earlier this month had appeal by Bayer knocked back: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-top-court-upholds-eu-ban-bayer-pesticides-linked-harming-bees-2021-05-06/

 

Just yesterday the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety voted in support of a motion objecting to an MRL for the use of Imidacloprid in salmon farming with a vote expected in the European Parliament's plenary next month:

https://donstaniford.typepad.com/my-blog/2021/05/wave-of-european-opposition-to-benchmarks-imidacloprid-bmk08-the-tide-turns-against-neonicotinoids-i.html

 

The motion - led by Grace O'Sullivan MEP - presented the scientific case against Imidacloprid:

https://donstaniford.typepad.com/my-blog/2021/05/european-opposition-to-neonicotinoid-contamination-of-farmed-salmon-is-bmk08-imidacloprid-dead-in-th.html

 

If, as expected, the European Parliament and European Commission outlaw the use of Imidacloprid in salmon farming then the financial impact on Benchmark will be crippling and may blow BMK08 out of the water completely not only in Scotland but also in Norway, Chile and Canada. 

 

It is certainly too early to claim, as Benchmark did last month to investors, that BMK08 had already been "ratified by EU law".   Indeed, it is a very real prospect that BMK08 (Imidacloprid) will be outlawed by the EU and banned for use in salmon farming as it is already for terrestrial agriculture.

 

Meanwhile, Benchmark continues to mislead investors and the media that BMK08 is close to commercial launch (again failing to disclose the alarming fact that BMK08 is the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid and public opposition to neonicotinoids is growing):

https://www.fishfarmingexpert.com/article/new-lice-treatment-now-in-hands-of-regulators/

https://www.fishfarmingexpert.com/article/new-lice-treatment-method-close-to-commercial-launch/

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch has published extensively on this issue and has included information in a blog published today via:

https://donstaniford.typepad.com/my-blog/2021/05/wave-of-european-opposition-to-benchmarks-imidacloprid-bmk08-the-tide-turns-against-neonicotinoids-i.html

 

 

We invite Benchmark - copied in here - to explain why they have misled the financial community and to come clean on their planned use of a banned neonicotinoid which is clearly neither an environmentally friendly option nor a palatable prospect for the public. 

 

Finally, we invite the financial community to investigate whether Benchmark is guilty of non-disclosure and deceptive financial statements.

 

Further information on this controversial and toxic issue is available via:

 

European Opposition to Neonicotinoid Contamination of Farmed Salmon - is BMK08 (Imidacloprid) dead in the water?

The Guardian: "‘Novichok for insects’ may be approved for Scottish fish farms"

Who are the toxic team lurking behind Benchmark's BMK08 (Imidacloprid) in Scottish salmon pharming?

The Ferret: "Bee-killing pesticide treatment for fish farms backed by Scottish Government"

Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon - Benchmark's magic trick making the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid disappear!

Rumsfeldian Fish Philosophy - Things We Know We Know, Things We Now Know We Don't Know & Things We Don't Know We Don't Know About 'Scottish' Salmon!

SEPA ordered by Commissioner to Disclose 'Commercially Confidential' Information on CleanTreat & BMK08 (Imidacloprid) by 7 June

Warning: Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming "Clears Another Hurdle" With European MRL

Warning: Imidacloprid Moves A Step Closer to Commercial Use in Salmon Farming

Nasty Neonicotinoid Plagues Salmon Farming in 2021

Toxic Neonicotinoid "Close to Commercial Launch" in Salmon Farming!

New Science Dogs Approval of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid for Scottish Salmon!

Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming?

Secret Salmon - On the Trail of Imidacloprid Use in Scotland!

British Wildlife: "Neonics in Salmon Farming - Alarm Bells Are Ringing"

Caveat Chile - toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (BMK08) coming soon!

Toxic Politics - Meet the Scottish Government's Minister for Sinister Chemicals

Imidacloprid Licensed for Use by Mowi in Loch Ailort?

Further Scientific Opposition to Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming

Patent lifts lid on neonicotinoid use in salmon farming

Horrible History: Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming

Scientific Opposition to Neonicotinoid Use in Salmon Farming

Backgrounder: "Imidacloprid - A Neonicotinoid Insecticide Toxic to Aquatic Life"

BBC Farming Today on "Neonicotinoids in Salmon Farming"

Sunday Times: "Outlawed insecticide may be used on Scottish salmon"

FOI letter on Scientific Concerns re. Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming

Scottish Greens "Deeply Concerned" at Mowi's Field Trial of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in Loch Ailort

Letter to the Prince of Wales re. bee-killing Imidacloprid use at royal warrant holder Mowi

Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid?

Follow the Salmoney - the Norwegian tobacco billionaire behind the Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid

ENDS Report: "Calls for greater transparency over ‘toxic’ new fish farm product"

Letter to SEPA: Please Come Clean on Imidacloprid!

Letter to Scottish Ministers, SEPA & the VMD re. Imidacloprid

FOI requests on Imidacloprid to SEPA, VMD & the Scottish Government

Revealed: Toxic Neonicotinoid Insecticide Used to 'CleanTreat' Lousy Salmon

Please Come Clean on BMK08!

Sunday Times: "Official fears revealed over toxic threat of salmon trade"

Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon

CleanTreat FOI Disclosures by the Scottish Government to Scottish Salmon Watch

Media Backgrounder: Chemically Embalmed Scottish Salmon

All is Not Well With Sick Scottish Salmon

 

Thanks,

 

Don Staniford

 

Director, Scottish Salmon Watch

 

 

 

Last month (19 April 2021), Scottish Salmon Watch wrote to Benchmark questioning the accuracy of the claim that BMK08 (Imidacloprid) had been "ratified under EU law".

 

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Apr 19, 2021 at 9:44 AM
Subject: Imidacloprid MRL "ratified under EU Law"
To: Rachel Aninakwah <rachel.aninakwah@bmkholdings.com>

Rachel,

 

Could you please clarify your claim in Benchmark's press release on Friday (see below)?

 

Namely:

 

"Benchmark Holdings is pleased to announce that the MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) for its novel sea lice treatment BMK08 has now been ratified under European Law".

 

 

How and where has an MRL for Imidacloprid (BMK08) "now been ratified under European Law"?

 

Please provide the documentation to corroborate this claim.

 

Scottish Salmon Watch understands from dialogue with a contact in Brussels that Benchmark has jumped the gun on this one and your claim is incorrect. 

 

Clarification by the end of the day would therefore be much appreciated.

 

You could also reply to this Tweet: https://twitter.com/TheGAAIA/status/1384065096704425986

 

Thanks,

 

Don

 

 

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Apr 19, 2021 at 9:44 AM
Subject: Imidacloprid MRL "ratified under EU Law"
To: Rachel Aninakwah <rachel.aninakwah@bmkholdings.com>

Rachel,

 

Could you please clarify your claim in Benchmark's press release on Friday (see below)?

 

Namely:

 

"Benchmark Holdings is pleased to announce that the MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) for its novel sea lice treatment BMK08 has now been ratified under European Law".

 

 

How and where has an MRL for Imidacloprid (BMK08) "now been ratified under European Law"?

 

Please provide the documentation to corroborate this claim.

 

Scottish Salmon Watch understands from dialogue with a contact in Brussels that Benchmark has jumped the gun on this one and your claim is incorrect. 

 

Clarification by the end of the day would therefore be much appreciated.

 

You could also reply to this Tweet: https://twitter.com/TheGAAIA/status/1384065096704425986

 

Thanks,

 

Don

 

 

 

From: Benchmark Holdings <mailservice@euroland.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2021 at 11:04
Subject: Benchmark Holdings - BMK08+CleanTreat Update
To:

RNS Number : 7421V

Benchmark Holdings PLC

16 April 2021

 

16 April 2021

Benchmark Holdings

("Benchmark" or the "Company")

BMK08+CleanTreatÒ Update

Ratification of Maximum Residue Limit under European Law

Significant milestone towards the commercialisation of BMK08 and CleanTreatÒ

Further to the notification made on 10 September 2020, Benchmark Holdings is pleased to announce that the MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) for its novel sea lice treatment BMK08 has now been ratified under European Law. The MRL confirms the safety of Benchmark's sea lice solution for consumers and represents a significant milestone in the regulatory approval process towards the anticipated commercial launch of BMK08 and CleanTreatÒ in Norway. The commercial launch remains subject to the grant of a Marketing Authorisation in Norway.  

BMK08 and CleanTreatÒ is a transformational solution addressing the biggest biological challenge in salmon farming. The MRL EU ratification is the culmination of almost a decade of research and development, a rigorous trial programme and substantial capital investment by Benchmark.  

Trond Williksen, CEO, commented:

"The ratification of the MRL is a further stepping stone towards commercialisation following the announcement of our first customer agreements for CleanTreatâ  announced in March.

Sea lice continues to be the biggest biological challenge for salmon producers and Benchmark's novel solution addresses this challenge in a sustainable way both in terms of animal welfare and environmental impact."

Enquiries:

Benchmark Holdings plc	Tel: 020 3696 0630
Ivonne Cantu, Investor Relations Director
Rachel Aninakwah, Communications
Numis (Broker and NOMAD)	Tel: 020 7260 1000
James Black / Freddie Barnfield / Duncan Monteith
MHP
Katie Hunt /Alistair de Kare-Silver	Tel: 020 3128 8742                            benchmark@mhpc.com

 

 

 

With increasing pressure and opposition is Benchmark's toxic plans to unleash 'Novichok for insects' on salmon farms across Norway, Scotland, Chile and Canada now dead in the water (alongside the tens of millions of disease-ridden salmon killed each year on salmon farms)?

 

A vote later today by the European Parliament's Environment Committee may severely impede the passage for the regulatory approval of Imidacloprid - dubbed the 'Novichok for insects' - or even leave it dead in the water @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner https://t.co/FnsWTQ4Xw8 #BMK08 pic.twitter.com/PbJHYNxuPh

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 28, 2021

 

 

 

Afloat reported yesterday (28 May 2021):

 

 

Irish Green MEP Opposes Toxic Pesticide Use in Salmon Farming @AfloatMagazine @GraceOSllvn @ZoeZebedee @europeangreens @markruskell @scotgp https://t.co/UUjuR8mgto @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @EMA_News @vmdgovuk @marinescotland @SSPOsays @PAN_UK @DaveGoulson #BMK08 #Imidacloprid

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 29, 2021

 

 

 

Reuters reported earlier this month (6 May 2021):

 

 

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency have until 7 June 2021 - following a ruling by the Scottish Information Commissioner last month - to disclose further information on CleanTreat and BMK08 (Imidacloprid).

 

 

Scotland's Information Commissioner forces @ScottishEPA to disclose 'commercially confidential' information on Benchmark's CleanTreat - which uses the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (BMK08) - by 7 June @FOIScotland @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @FerretScot https://t.co/oo4MPSdGlk pic.twitter.com/4j8bYy87E4

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 22, 2021

 

 

 

Read more via:

• European Opposition to Neonicotinoid Contamination of Farmed Salmon - is BMK08 (Imidacloprid) dead in the water?
• The Guardian: "‘Novichok for insects’ may be approved for Scottish fish farms"
• Who are the toxic team lurking behind Benchmark's BMK08 (Imidacloprid) in Scottish salmon pharming?
• The Ferret: "Bee-killing pesticide treatment for fish farms backed by Scottish Government"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon - Benchmark's magic trick making the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid disappear!
• Rumsfeldian Fish Philosophy - Things We Know We Know, Things We Now Know We Don't Know & Things We Don't Know We Don't Know About 'Scottish' Salmon!
• SEPA ordered by Commissioner to Disclose 'Commercially Confidential' Information on CleanTreat & BMK08 (Imidacloprid) by 7 June
• Warning: Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming "Clears Another Hurdle" With European MRL
• Warning: Imidacloprid Moves A Step Closer to Commercial Use in Salmon Farming
• Nasty Neonicotinoid Plagues Salmon Farming in 2021
• Toxic Neonicotinoid "Close to Commercial Launch" in Salmon Farming!
• New Science Dogs Approval of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid for Scottish Salmon!
• Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming?
• Secret Salmon - On the Trail of Imidacloprid Use in Scotland!
• British Wildlife: "Neonics in Salmon Farming - Alarm Bells Are Ringing"
• Caveat Chile - toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (BMK08) coming soon!
• Toxic Politics - Meet the Scottish Government's Minister for Sinister Chemicals
• Imidacloprid Licensed for Use by Mowi in Loch Ailort?
• Further Scientific Opposition to Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Patent lifts lid on neonicotinoid use in salmon farming
• Horrible History: Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Scientific Opposition to Neonicotinoid Use in Salmon Farming
• Backgrounder: "Imidacloprid - A Neonicotinoid Insecticide Toxic to Aquatic Life"
• BBC Farming Today on "Neonicotinoids in Salmon Farming"
• Sunday Times: "Outlawed insecticide may be used on Scottish salmon"
• FOI letter on Scientific Concerns re. Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming
• Scottish Greens "Deeply Concerned" at Mowi's Field Trial of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in Loch Ailort
• Letter to the Prince of Wales re. bee-killing Imidacloprid use at royal warrant holder Mowi
• Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid?
• Follow the Salmoney - the Norwegian tobacco billionaire behind the Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid
• ENDS Report: "Calls for greater transparency over ‘toxic’ new fish farm product"
• Letter to SEPA: Please Come Clean on Imidacloprid!
• Letter to Scottish Ministers, SEPA & the VMD re. Imidacloprid
• FOI requests on Imidacloprid to SEPA, VMD & the Scottish Government
• Revealed: Toxic Neonicotinoid Insecticide Used to 'CleanTreat' Lousy Salmon
• Please Come Clean on BMK08!
• Sunday Times: "Official fears revealed over toxic threat of salmon trade"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon
• CleanTreat FOI Disclosures by the Scottish Government to Scottish Salmon Watch
• Media Backgrounder: Chemically Embalmed Scottish Salmon
• All is Not Well With Sick Scottish Salmon

 

 

 

When will Scottish salmon's toxic secrets be revealed? Will the public discover the ecological risks of Imidacloprid (BMK08) AFTER it has been approved?!
It's been over a year since an FOI appeal was filed! @FOIScotland @ScottishEPA @WeAreBenchmark https://t.co/AcASvswO4b pic.twitter.com/0ZaL7Nq54c

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 17, 2021

 

Captain Paul Watson: "Salmon farming is toxic....it must be abolished"

 

"Salmon farming is toxic, it spreads viruses to indigenous salmon, it is not healthy for people or marine eco-systems. It must be abolished. It is a foul, destructive, wasteful & poisonous industry that should not exist" @CaptPaulWatson @seashepherd_uk https://t.co/8QUVb3QCXw pic.twitter.com/dzOGTK0qny

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 28, 2021

 

 

 

Intrafish reported in November 2019:

 

 

 

 

 

Follow Captain Paul Watson on Facebook.

 

 

 

 

Watch video footage shot by Sea Shepherd inside salmon farms:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

European Opposition to Neonicotinoid Contamination of Farmed Salmon - is BMK08 (Imidacloprid) dead in the water?

 

A vote later today by the European Parliament's Environment Committee may severely impede the passage for the regulatory approval of Imidacloprid - dubbed the 'Novichok for insects' - or even leave it dead in the water @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner https://t.co/FnsWTQ4Xw8 #BMK08 pic.twitter.com/PbJHYNxuPh

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 28, 2021

 

Have Norwegian-owned Benchmark - the company behind a plan to unleash the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (BMK08) in salmon farming - jumped the gun in claiming that an MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) for Imidacloprid in farmed salmon has been "ratified by EU law"?  A vote later today by the European Parliament's Environment Committee may severely impede the passage for the regulatory approval of Imidacloprid or even leave it dead in the water.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last month (16 April 2021), Benchmark reported via a press release published by the London Stock Exchange:

 

 

 

Fish Farming Expert dutifully reported (16 April 2021):

 

 

 

Yesterday (27 May 2021), an article published in The Guardian dubbed Imidacloprid as "Novichok for insects".

 

"It’s like the wild west" said @DaveGoulson "These chemicals are incredibly poisonous – the novichok for insects. It takes a billionth of a gram to harm aquatic life, so even tiny traces would have major impacts on marine life" @guardian @WeAreBenchmark https://t.co/OzouYaXCEk

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

 

 

Significantly, The Guardian article cited opposition led by the European Greens to the setting of an MRL for Imidacloprid in farmed salmon:

 

 

 

The opposition motion dated yesterday (27 May 2021) - and voted on later today not yesterday as reported in The Guardian - is spearheaded by Grace O'Sullivan MEP.  The resolution calls on the Commission to: Repeal the Implementing Regulation and submit a new draft to the committee and include imidacloprid in the list set out in Annex IV for which no maximum levels can be fixed for aquatic use; Ensure consistency with the Transparency Regulation where the risk assessment is undertaken by agencies other than EFSA; Calls for time-cumulative, peer reviewed eco-toxicological testing for non-target species and a Revision 2001/82/EC vis-à-vis the protection of biodiversity, protecting the aquatic environment, taking account of animal welfare and non-target organisms and microorganisms; To undertake a fitness check of the risk assessment process to establish MRLs for vet meds in foodstuffs of animal origin: 

 

 

 

The opposition motion includes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Download the opposition motion in full online here

 

 

 

European Greens oppose use of the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (BMK08) in salmon farming @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner
"Environmental damage & Ecocide" cited in scientific opposition to a toxic chemical dubbed 'Novichok for insects' @DaveGoulson @ZoeZebedee @GraceOSllvn pic.twitter.com/1VwlGBZ27E

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 28, 2021

 

 

 

The turbid political waters of toxic chemicals and European licensing - as well as the secrecy surrounding Benchmark's BMK08 - does not make it easy to see what's going on here. 

 

 

Zoe Dingwall, policy advisor for Environment, Public Health & Food Safety, at the European Greens told Scottish Salmon Watch earlier this week:

"Europe has some of the highest food standards in the world. Maximum Residue Levels are set into EU law max permitted safe levels of chemical residues that are in our food chains food such as pesticides or herbicides sprayed into crops.  The new transparency regulation (EU) 2019/1381 is all about promoting transparency in food chain risk assessments which is usually conducted by the European Food Standards Agency (EFSA) however on a few rare occasions, when the chemical residues are related to Veterinary medicine, the risk assessment is conducted by the Committee on Veterinary Medicinal Products (CVMP) which is part of the European Medicines Agency.

Legislation in the EU can be established in a number of ways and usually the European Parliament has a 'veto right' (right to scrutinise and to object). However, veterinary medicines risk assessment for a Maximimum Residue Level (MRL) is established by way of an 'Implementing Act' where the European Parliament has no veto right.  In 2018 EFSA banned the use of imidacloprid outdoors use on crops due to it known toxicity to bees.

However imidacloprid is still permitted to be used as a common pet flea treatment for cats and dogs.  Because it is already has been permitted to be used as a veterinary medicine,  it only requires an application from the interested party (probably a representative of Cleantreat) to submit an application to the EMA and make their representations.  We do not know what these representations are or the scientific studies on which the authorisation to grant the MRL for use in fin fish as our requests for this information was denied – this is completely unacceptable to the European Parliament

Furthermore as the four major salmon producing countries are non-EU Member States it will be impossible for the EU to assess the adequacy of controls

Greens/EFA group tabled a motion for resolution calling for the full scientific opinion and the studies that it was based on to be made available.  We also point out that scientific studies need to be independent, peer-reviewed, time-cumulative (long term) to properly assess the impact of these chemical on the environment, animal welfare and biodiversity.  The nine page document lists the inconsistencies with EU law as well as including scientific studies that conclude that imidaclopid should not be used in the aquatic environment due to its toxicity to non-target organisms. who have a democratic right and the rights of European citizens to know what chemical substances are being used in the food that they consume.

Other inconsistencies outlined in the resolution relate to the significant amount of EU law relating to the risk assessment process  for pesticides (used on crops) and minimum requirements including potentially harmful effects of chemical substances on groundwater, soil health and non-target species including micro-organisms that lives in water and the soil.  We also question how the the European Chemicals Agency classifies imidacloprid as "toxic to aquatic life" and "harmful if swallowed" but the EMA is quite happy to authorise it's use in the aquatic environment - it does not seem very consistent or convincing!

We are calling on the European Commission to repeal the implementing act and include imidacloprid as a substance that should never be used in the aquatic environment.  The vote will be held in the European Parliament's Committee for the Environment, public health and food safety and if adopted in Committee (this Friday) it will be put in front of the European Parliament to be formally adopted as its position on this matter."

 

 

 

Benchmark's lobbyists in Brussels will certainly be watching today's Committee for the Environment in the European Parliament with interest.  If the vote goes against Imidacloprid, the implementing act may be repealed and the European Commission may update the risk assessment process for all veterinary medicine especially when these are used in the food chain.   Benchmark's claim that it had been "ratified by EU law" is clearly misleading because it implies that the European Parliament has already endorsed the setting of the MRL when clearly that is not the case. 

 

 

 

The European Greens argue that it's not acceptable to assess such a controversial substance in such an intransparent manner especially considering the aims of the Transparency Regulation.  The resolution highlights a major inconsistency with the new Transparency Regulation (2019/1381) in that it doesn't cover foodstuffs of animal origin (when the pesticide residue is a veterinary medicine assessed by the EMA and that it is inconsistent with Union Law and with the ECHA assessment report that categorises imidacloprid is "dangerous for the environment" and "very toxic to aquatic life".

 

 

 

There is growing scientific opposition to the use of Imidicloprid in both terrestrial agriculture and salmon farming.  Francisco Sánchez-Bayo, an environmental scientist and ecologist at the University of Sydney, said:

"Imidacloprid is extremely toxic to invertebrates by acute and chronic exposure, and therefore makes no sense at all to use it in the aquatic environment, where organisms are exposed continuously to residues, no matter how low they may be.  The claim that imidacloprid would not enter the aquatic environment upon release of the salmon is fallacious. Due to the mobility of this chemical in water, it is practically impossible to avoid contamination of the receiving waters. Even tiny residues below 1 ppb can deplete populations of aquatic insects!  For this reason, I cannot understand the need for using a product that contains imidacloprid for salmon farming.  There are other chemicals used for disinfecting fish that cause less harm to the aquatic environment than imidacloprid, so why should anyone insist in using the worst chemical in the market for such a purpose?"

 

 

 

Professor Dave Goulson from the University of Sussex (author of 'A Sting in the Tail' and the forthcoming book 'Silent Earth') said:

"Imidacloprid has been banned from use by farmers because of the widespread environmental harm it caused, which included impacting on freshwater insects.  It would be the height of foolishness to start using this potent, broad-spectrum neurotoxin in salmon farming.  This proposed CleanTreat® system claims to entirely remove Imidacloprid from the water returned to the sea, but this clearly needs to be tested by an independent laboratory.  Imidacloprid is extremely toxic to a broad range of invertebrates, with concentrations of less than 1 part per billion enough to harm aquatic life, so even tiny traces would have major impacts on marine life."

 

 

Read more via:

British Wildlife: "Neonics in Salmon Farming - Alarm Bells Are Ringing"

Further scientific opposition to Imidacloprid use in salmon farming

Scientific opposition to Neonicotinoid use in salmon farming

Scottish Greens "Deeply Concerned" at Mowi's Field Trial of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in Loch Ailort

Backgrounder: "Imidacloprid - A Neonicotinoid Insecticide Toxic to Aquatic Life"

 

 

 

Reuters reported earlier this month (6 May 2021):

 

 

 

Fish Farming Expert reported in September 2020:

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the EMA statement (11 September 2020):

 

 

 

 

Intrafish reported (10 September 2020):

 

 

 

 

 

Despite growing scientific opposition to the use of Imidacloprid in salmon farming, it seems the Aquaculture Stewardship Council is happy to open the floodgates to Imidacloprid.

 

How is the ASC getting on with approving ‘Novichok for insects’ (Imidacloprid) for use in "environmentally friendly" salmon pharming? @ASC_aqua https://t.co/mJ8BIjMG8V @WeAreBenchmark @Bayer @ScotlandMowi
Pure ASC-certified salmon marinaded in neonicotinoid! #BMK08 #Benchmark pic.twitter.com/aMYgVdEOVC

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

 

 

Read more via:

• The Guardian: "‘Novichok for insects’ may be approved for Scottish fish farms"
• Who are the toxic team lurking behind Benchmark's BMK08 (Imidacloprid) in Scottish salmon pharming?
• The Ferret: "Bee-killing pesticide treatment for fish farms backed by Scottish Government"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon - Benchmark's magic trick making the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid disappear!
• Rumsfeldian Fish Philosophy - Things We Know We Know, Things We Now Know We Don't Know & Things We Don't Know We Don't Know About 'Scottish' Salmon!
• SEPA ordered by Commissioner to Disclose 'Commercially Confidential' Information on CleanTreat & BMK08 (Imidacloprid) by 7 June
• Warning: Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming "Clears Another Hurdle" With European MRL
• Warning: Imidacloprid Moves A Step Closer to Commercial Use in Salmon Farming
• Nasty Neonicotinoid Plagues Salmon Farming in 2021
• Toxic Neonicotinoid "Close to Commercial Launch" in Salmon Farming!
• New Science Dogs Approval of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid for Scottish Salmon!
• Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming?
• Secret Salmon - On the Trail of Imidacloprid Use in Scotland!
• British Wildlife: "Neonics in Salmon Farming - Alarm Bells Are Ringing"
• Caveat Chile - toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (BMK08) coming soon!
• Toxic Politics - Meet the Scottish Government's Minister for Sinister Chemicals
• Imidacloprid Licensed for Use by Mowi in Loch Ailort?
• Further Scientific Opposition to Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Patent lifts lid on neonicotinoid use in salmon farming
• Horrible History: Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Scientific Opposition to Neonicotinoid Use in Salmon Farming
• Backgrounder: "Imidacloprid - A Neonicotinoid Insecticide Toxic to Aquatic Life"
• BBC Farming Today on "Neonicotinoids in Salmon Farming"
• Sunday Times: "Outlawed insecticide may be used on Scottish salmon"
• FOI letter on Scientific Concerns re. Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming
• Scottish Greens "Deeply Concerned" at Mowi's Field Trial of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in Loch Ailort
• Letter to the Prince of Wales re. bee-killing Imidacloprid use at royal warrant holder Mowi
• Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid?
• Follow the Salmoney - the Norwegian tobacco billionaire behind the Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid
• ENDS Report: "Calls for greater transparency over ‘toxic’ new fish farm product"
• Letter to SEPA: Please Come Clean on Imidacloprid!
• Letter to Scottish Ministers, SEPA & the VMD re. Imidacloprid
• FOI requests on Imidacloprid to SEPA, VMD & the Scottish Government
• Revealed: Toxic Neonicotinoid Insecticide Used to 'CleanTreat' Lousy Salmon
• Please Come Clean on BMK08!
• Sunday Times: "Official fears revealed over toxic threat of salmon trade"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon
• CleanTreat FOI Disclosures by the Scottish Government to Scottish Salmon Watch
• Media Backgrounder: Chemically Embalmed Scottish Salmon
• All is Not Well With Sick Scottish Salmon

 

 

 

Benchmark: "We are currently focused on launching our new sea-lice solution, BMK08 [the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid] in Norway" @WeAreBenchmark https://t.co/OzouYbfdvS
Which farms are using Imidacloprid? @LeroySeafood @seafoodnorway @fiskeridir @FerdOwner @Folketrygdfond

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

Daily Mail: "Dumped into the dunes....thousands of rotten, disease ridden salmon"

 

 

Today's Daily Mail: "Dumped into the dunes....thousands of rotten, disease ridden salmon" https://t.co/xDT5tACcb1 @cne_siar @marinescotland @MairiMcAllan @_KateForbes @MairiGougeon @GreenerScotland @ScottishEPA @joe_crowley @APHAgovuk @ewangkennedy @SalmonTroutCons @DailyMailUK pic.twitter.com/KFTHMw4yJo

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 28, 2021

 

The Daily Mail reported (28 May 2021):

 

 

 

 

Watch a video report from Whiteshore Cockles:

 

 

 

Read more via:

• Independent: "Scottish islanders raise a stink over vast salmon graveyard"
• Video Exposes Mass Graves of Millions of Diseased Scottish Salmon
• The Times: "Islanders raise a stink over vast salmon graveyard"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is anyone living near the Whiteshore Cockles dump for diseased salmon in North Uist - as exposed in today's Daily Mail - willing to speak out about the bad smell & fishy goings on? @cne_siar @north_uist @OuterHebs #NorthUist #OuterHebrides pic.twitter.com/CnZ8yUgwE5

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 28, 2021

 

 

 

Visit the Outer Hebrides - the beaches are lovely (just keep quiet about the stench of disease-ridden salmon dumped in North Uist)! @OuterHebs @VisitScotland @VisitScotNews @cne_siar @mvscotland @_KateForbes @jhalcrojohnston @MairiMcAllan @MairiGougeon https://t.co/HUchHu2RRF pic.twitter.com/TOdP1bBqDa

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

Independent: "Scottish islanders raise a stink over vast salmon graveyard"

 

Huge quantities of diseased salmon from Scottish fish farms are being dumped in an open landfill on the Western Isles in contravention of environmental guidelines, campaigners have said @Independent https://t.co/C5uHqmMPlT@cne_siar @SSPOsays @ScotlandMowi @salmon_scottish

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 28, 2021

 

The Independent reported (27 May 2021):

 

 

 

 

 

Watch video reports from the mass graveyard at Whiteshore Cockles in North Uist:

 

 

 

 

 

Read more via:

• Video Exposes Mass Graves of Millions of Diseased Scottish Salmon
• The Times: "Islanders raise a stink over vast salmon graveyard"

The Guardian: "‘Novichok for insects’ may be approved for Scottish fish farms"

 

‘Novichok for insects’ may be approved for Scottish fish farms https://t.co/OzouYaXCEk @guardian @karenmcveigh1 @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @FerretScot @DaveGoulson @GraceOSllvn @europeangreens @ZoeZebedee @markruskell @vmdgovuk @marinescotland @EMA_News @PAN_UK @GreenerScotland

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

 

The Guardian reported (27 May 2021):

 

Read article in full online here

 

 

"It’s like the wild west" said @DaveGoulson "These chemicals are incredibly poisonous – the novichok for insects. It takes a billionth of a gram to harm aquatic life, so even tiny traces would have major impacts on marine life" @guardian @WeAreBenchmark https://t.co/OzouYaXCEk

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

Don Staniford who obtained the emails via FOI said: “The Scottish government are paving the way for this toxic chemical to be used even before the environmental risk assessments are published"https://t.co/OzouYaXCEk @marinescotland @ScottishEPA @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @scotgp

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

Are @scotgov so entwined with the toxic #salmon industry that they're prepared to sanction poisoning the sea with a banned insecticide for billionaires' profits?
This has to stop, @ScotGovFM; and stop now.https://t.co/qPKPleqsqK

— Russ Cheshire #ThreePointFivePercent 🇪🇺 💙 (@RussCheshire) May 27, 2021

 

 

 

RT News reported (27 May 2021):

 

‘Incredibly poisonous’ pesticide banned by EU may receive approval for use in Scottish salmon farms @RT_com @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @DaveGoulson @marinescotland @MairiMcAllan @MairiGougeon @europeangreens @markruskell @SSPOsays https://t.co/0L0zRX36It #BMK08 #Imidacloprid

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

 

The Independent reported (27 May 2021):

 

‘Novichok for insects’ may be approved for Scottish fish farms @Independent @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @marinescotland @DaveGoulson @FerretScot @ScottishEPA @scotgp @europeangreens @SSPOsays https://t.co/5YYRbGaw3r

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 28, 2021

 

 

 

Read more via:

• Who are the toxic team lurking behind Benchmark's BMK08 (Imidacloprid) in Scottish salmon pharming?
• The Ferret: "Bee-killing pesticide treatment for fish farms backed by Scottish Government"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon - Benchmark's magic trick making the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid disappear!
• Rumsfeldian Fish Philosophy - Things We Know We Know, Things We Now Know We Don't Know & Things We Don't Know We Don't Know About 'Scottish' Salmon!
• SEPA ordered by Commissioner to Disclose 'Commercially Confidential' Information on CleanTreat & BMK08 (Imidacloprid) by 7 June
• Warning: Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming "Clears Another Hurdle" With European MRL
• Warning: Imidacloprid Moves A Step Closer to Commercial Use in Salmon Farming
• Nasty Neonicotinoid Plagues Salmon Farming in 2021
• Toxic Neonicotinoid "Close to Commercial Launch" in Salmon Farming!
• New Science Dogs Approval of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid for Scottish Salmon!
• Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming?
• Secret Salmon - On the Trail of Imidacloprid Use in Scotland!
• British Wildlife: "Neonics in Salmon Farming - Alarm Bells Are Ringing"
• Caveat Chile - toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (BMK08) coming soon!
• Toxic Politics - Meet the Scottish Government's Minister for Sinister Chemicals
• Imidacloprid Licensed for Use by Mowi in Loch Ailort?
• Further Scientific Opposition to Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Patent lifts lid on neonicotinoid use in salmon farming
• Horrible History: Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
• Scientific Opposition to Neonicotinoid Use in Salmon Farming
• Backgrounder: "Imidacloprid - A Neonicotinoid Insecticide Toxic to Aquatic Life"
• BBC Farming Today on "Neonicotinoids in Salmon Farming"
• Sunday Times: "Outlawed insecticide may be used on Scottish salmon"
• FOI letter on Scientific Concerns re. Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming
• Scottish Greens "Deeply Concerned" at Mowi's Field Trial of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in Loch Ailort
• Letter to the Prince of Wales re. bee-killing Imidacloprid use at royal warrant holder Mowi
• Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid?
• Follow the Salmoney - the Norwegian tobacco billionaire behind the Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid
• ENDS Report: "Calls for greater transparency over ‘toxic’ new fish farm product"
• Letter to SEPA: Please Come Clean on Imidacloprid!
• Letter to Scottish Ministers, SEPA & the VMD re. Imidacloprid
• FOI requests on Imidacloprid to SEPA, VMD & the Scottish Government
• Revealed: Toxic Neonicotinoid Insecticide Used to 'CleanTreat' Lousy Salmon
• Please Come Clean on BMK08!
• Sunday Times: "Official fears revealed over toxic threat of salmon trade"
• Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon
• CleanTreat FOI Disclosures by the Scottish Government to Scottish Salmon Watch
• Media Backgrounder: Chemically Embalmed Scottish Salmon
• All is Not Well With Sick Scottish Salmon

 

 

Will the public be able to view environmental risk assessment data on Imidacloprid (BMK08) on the Dark Web before it is approved for use in salmon farming in Scotland? @ScottishEPA @FOIScotland pic.twitter.com/ii4K4i0al5

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 18, 2021

 

 

When did SEPA know that BMK08 was the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid? @TerryAHearn @ScottishEPA You've met with @WeAreBenchmark at least five times since 2018 - when were you notified? Did you first read about it in @FerretScot on 17 March 2020? Did @FergusEwingSNP brief you? https://t.co/Vb3irgTVjE

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

 

When did the Scottish Government first know that BMK08/Ectosan was the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid? @marinescotland @GreenerScotland
Did @FergusEwingSNP know back in 2018? When did @WeAreBenchmark reveal the toxic truth? @FerdOwner @SSPOsays @ScotlandMowi @scotseafarms https://t.co/Vb3irgTVjE

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

Video Exposes Mass Graves of Millions of Diseased Scottish Salmon

 

Video Exclusive: Salmon farming in Scotland is a disease-ridden dump! https://t.co/hLEPBM25OB
When will burial at Whiteshore Cockles be stopped & the law be followed not flouted? @_KateForbes @MairiMcAllan @cne_siar @ScottishEPA @salmon_scottish @LochDuartSalmon @WHFP1 pic.twitter.com/0FSuAht1R3

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

 

 

Read press release with media backgrounder and notes to editors in full - online here

 

 

“The authorities have turned a blind eye to the continued dumping of diseased farmed salmon in landfill for well over a decade,” said Staniford. “Scotland’s secret salmon graveyard stinks to high heaven & must be shut down now” @thetimes @GreenerScotland https://t.co/PUxDL1BKl1

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

 

Letter to Scottish Government, DEFRA & SEPA re breach of EU law dated 27 May 2021 - online here

 

 

Why is Whiteshore Cockles still being allowed to break the law by illegally dumping diseased salmon in North Uist? @GreenerScotland @ScottishEPA @cne_siar @EuropeanCommiss @EU_Health @APHAgovuk @DefraGovUK @MairiMcAllan @MairiGougeon @BenMacpherson https://t.co/PUxDL1BKl1

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

 

 

Letter to the Scottish Information Commissioner dated 25 May 2021 - online here

 

 

If you go down to the beach today, you're sure of a big surprise! @north_uist @cne_siar @OuterHebs
Here's a photo of one of North Uist's beautiful beaches near Whiteshore Cockles' disease-ridden salmon dump sent in by a tourist @_KateForbes @Ivan_McKee https://t.co/QoEbWUPghb pic.twitter.com/rwrMZ5rpuo

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 14, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scotland's hidden beaches #1 - the secret gems Visit Scotland keeps hidden from the public! https://t.co/q98umfGggt@north_uist @cne_siar @OuterHebs @_KateForbes@Ivan_McKee @VisitScotland @VisitScotNews @SSPOsays @salmon_scottish
HS6 5DY #WhiteshoreCockles #NorthUist #Bayhead pic.twitter.com/HBgbjSt0xr

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 14, 2021

 

 

 

Read more via The Times: "Islanders raise a stink over vast salmon graveyard"

 

 

 

Ewan Kennedy in today's Times: "It’s extremely concerning to learn that massive quantities of diseased fish, many dead from viruses, are still being dumped in open landfill" @thetimes @thetimesscot @ewangkennedy @_KateForbes @GreenerScotland @cne_siarhttps://t.co/PUxDL1BKl1

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

 

 

The Sunday Times reported back in July 2005:

 

 

 

The Salmon Farm Protest Group reported in July 2005:

 

 

 

The Salmon Farm Protest Group reported in September 2005:

 

 

 

The Scottish Information Commissioner ruled in January 2006 that Western Isles Council (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) failed to respond to a FOI request from Bruce Sandison of the Salmon Farm Protest Group and ordered disclosure of information on the fish burial site [Whiteshore Cockles] (Decision 005/2006 Mr Sandison and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar). 

 

Download as a PDF online here

 

 

 

Photographer Corin Smith filmed at the same salmon dump in North Uist in 2018 - leading to exposure on BBC Countryfile in September 2018.

 

 

 

 

 

If they have fixed the problem or not they have no right to dump and bury lice infected farmed salmon like this on the Isle of Lewis.
Our wild salmon have travel past these farms so you can imagine the infection they pick up. This is NOT an isolated case of infected salmon farms pic.twitter.com/pdCxyrfs3Y

— Salmon & Trout Conservation WY (@SandTCUKYorks) September 11, 2018

 

 

 

The Ferret reported in April 2019:

 

 

 

 

Kate Forbes, the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Finance, visited the Whiteshore Cockles salmon dump in October 2019 when she was Digital Economy Minister:

 

 

Digital Economy Minister @KateForbesMSP visited Whiteshore Cockles in North Uist earlier this week to hear how they've used digital disruption as an opportunity to diversify and thrive pic.twitter.com/nct0dhG9sw

— Scot Gov Economy (@scotgoveconomy) October 2, 2019

 

 

 

The Ferret reported in July 2020:

 

 

 

 

The Ferret reported in March 2021:

 

 

 

Read more via:

Revealed: Burned, Buried & Ensiled Scottish Salmon

 

 

The Times: "Islanders raise a stink over vast salmon graveyard"

The Times: "Islanders raise a stink over vast salmon graveyard"

 

Raising a stink in today's Times: "Scotland’s secret salmon graveyard stinks to high heaven and must be shut down now" @thetimes https://t.co/PUxDL1BKl1

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 26, 2021

 

 

 

The Times reported (27 May 2021):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The authorities have turned a blind eye to the continued dumping of diseased farmed salmon in landfill for well over a decade,” said Staniford. “Scotland’s secret salmon graveyard stinks to high heaven & must be shut down now” @thetimes @GreenerScotland https://t.co/PUxDL1BKl1

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

 

 

Here's the newspaper version:

 

 

 

Read more via:

Video Exposes Mass Graves of Millions of Diseased Scottish Salmon

 

 

 

 

 

Well done Don. This all started a few years ago and there may, actually, be more than a million diseased salmon in the N Uist dump - we just don't know! This is the simple truth about salmon farming, isn't it. It stinks, yes. Why does it stink? Think about it, but don't eat it.

— Niall McKillop (@Badabrach) May 27, 2021

 

 

 

Ewan Kennedy in today's Times: "It’s extremely concerning to learn that massive quantities of diseased fish, many dead from viruses, are still being dumped in open landfill" @thetimes @thetimesscot @ewangkennedy @_KateForbes @GreenerScotland @cne_siarhttps://t.co/PUxDL1BKl1

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

 

 

Why is Whiteshore Cockles still being allowed to break the law by illegally dumping diseased salmon in North Uist? @GreenerScotland @ScottishEPA @cne_siar @EuropeanCommiss @EU_Health @APHAgovuk @DefraGovUK @MairiMcAllan @MairiGougeon @BenMacpherson https://t.co/PUxDL1BKl1

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

 

Visit the Outer Hebrides - the beaches are lovely (just keep quiet about the stench of disease-ridden salmon dumped in North Uist)! @OuterHebs @VisitScotland @VisitScotNews @cne_siar @mvscotland @_KateForbes @jhalcrojohnston @MairiMcAllan @MairiGougeon https://t.co/HUchHu2RRF pic.twitter.com/TOdP1bBqDa

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021

 

Mowi has blood on its hands over horrific death of Clive Hendry - how much will Mowi be fined for negligence?

 

Mowi has blood on its hands over the horrific death of Clive Hendry - how much will Mowi be fined for negligence? @ScotlandMowi @MowiScotlandLtd https://t.co/55xO0wiiy3 @maibgovuk @H_S_E @GreenerScotland @WHFP1 @pressjournal @IntraFishNorge @_KateForbes @Ianblackford_MP #Mowi pic.twitter.com/nfpEboInpn

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 26, 2021

 

Cheap Scottish salmon comes at a huge price - to seals (who are killed by salmon farms), shellfish (who are killed by toxic chemicals used by salmon farms), cetaceans (who are scared away by Acoustic Deterrent Devices), wild fish (who are killed by lice infestations and infectious diseases emanating from salmon farms) and even workers such as Clive Hendry. 

 

Mowi blamed @maibgovuk for horrific death in Loch Alsh: "investigation concluded that the conduct of the boat transfer had not been properly planned or briefed and was not adequately supervised or controlled" @ScotlandMowi @MowiScotlandLtd https://t.co/3Efr9KkrpP#Reckless #Mowi pic.twitter.com/XBEYV8wOIa

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 26, 2021

 

 

 

Today (26 May 2021), the Marine Accident Investigation Branch published a damning report on how negligence by Norwegian-owned Mowi caused the horrific death of Clive Hendry who was crushed between a workboat and feed storage unit at the Ardintoul salmon farm in Loch Alsh in February 2020. 

 

 

Download the 16 page MAIB report Download MAIB Clive Hendry accident report May 2021

 

 

 

 

 

BBC News reported (26 May 2021):

 

"It is just devastating to me to think he had the most horrific death" @ScotlandMowi @BBCNews @BBCScotlandNews @MowiScotlandLtd @maibgovuk https://t.co/Ty2a3Vnt7q @SSPOsays
How much will Mowi be fined for their negligence & lack of safety? @GreenerScotland @marinescotland

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 26, 2021

 

Watch a report from the BBC's Isla Todd:

 

 

 

BBC News reporting on Mowi's Safety Failures over Death of Clive Hendry at a salmon farm in Loch Alsh @BBCScotlandNews @ScottishHazards @ScotlandMowi @IslaTodd @WHFP1 @maibgovuk @_KateForbes @Ianblackford_MP @GreenerScotland @MCA_media @H_S_E @SSPOsays https://t.co/Xomv98TVBo

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 26, 2021

 

 

Scottish Hazards posted on Facebook (26 May 2021):

 

 

 

 

 

The Daily Mirror reported (26 May 2021):

 

"An experienced salmon farmer died after being crushed between a boat and a barge" @DailyMirror https://t.co/LMMHhbYFjU
"Mowi Scotland Ltd has been advised to 'fully implement a safety management system across its fleet'" @maibgovuk @ScotlandMowi
How much will Mowi be fined?

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 26, 2021

 

 

 

STV News reported (26 May 2021): 

 

"Mowi Scotland Ltd did not have an effective marine safety management system and lacked staff with the experience to oversee its marine operations" @ScotlandMowi @MowiScotlandLtd @maibgovuk
How much will Mowi be fined for their negligence & lack of safety? @GreenerScotland https://t.co/OoIUcdTTpI

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 26, 2021

 

 

 

Intrafish reported (26 May 2021):

 

"Investigation finds training failures in death of Mowi Scotland salmon farm manager - the worker (Clive Hendry) was crushed between a vessel and feed barge" @IntraFishNorge @maibgovuk @ScotlandMowi @WHFP1 @pressjournal @HighlandNews https://t.co/WAHyamFnA1 pic.twitter.com/JIskzFp0FI

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 26, 2021

 

 

 

The Daily Record reported (26 May 2021):

 

Scots fish farm worker drowned after being crushed between boat and barge in horror accidenthttps://t.co/Oa3fl5jXjU

— The Daily Record (@Daily_Record) May 26, 2021

 

 

 

When Scottish Salmon Watch visited Mowi's disease-ridden salmon farm at Ardintoul in Loch Alsh in November 2019 - just three months before Clive Hendry's horrific death in February 2020 - we witnessed how reckless Mowi can be.

 

Mowi fish farm at Ardintoul. It wasn't a safe place for workers or observers.@marinescotland @scotgov @MCA_media pic.twitter.com/5b1Ui6bZT1

— Andrew Holder (@andrholder) May 26, 2021

 

 

Caught on Camera - Mowi's Reckless Breaches of Health & Safety in Loch Alsh! https://t.co/0nvWGe0MkQ Complaint vs @MowiScotlandLtd filed with @H_S_E & @MCA_media Who's policing salmon farms? @policescotland @marinescotland @APHAgovuk @CrownEstateScot @ScottishEPA @HumzaYousaf pic.twitter.com/f4oClqkpiA

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 15, 2019

 

 

Complaint re. MOWI's reckless behaviour & subsequent fatality in Loch Alsh @MCA_media @transportgovuk @grantshapps https://t.co/dxUXoYiK90 @MowiScotlandLtd @H_S_E @HumzaYousaf @marinescotland @policescotland @maibgovuk @COPFS @ScotGovJustice @GaelForceGroup @SSPOsays pic.twitter.com/org6QksDau

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 1, 2020

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in February 2020:

 

Norwegian-owned Marine Harvest renamed itself Mowi on 1 January 2019 due to negative consumer perception https://t.co/UM7XEnEmLZ With all the dead bodies piling up @MowiScotlandLtd it may have to think about re-branding itself again @MCA_media @H_S_E @MowiCanadaWest @FWMowinckel pic.twitter.com/Vv0aYu6cSj

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 26, 2020

 

 

 

Mowi has been responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of farmed salmon and dozens of seals in Loch Alsh.  Scottish Salmon Watch reported in January 2020:

 

 

 

 

The publication of damning documents by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate (published online on 17 January 2020) reveals why Mowi's lawyers are so desperate for people to stay away from their virus-laden feedlots.  

 

 

 

"At the time of the visit moribund fish and some floating mortalities were observed in all cages" stated the FHI inspection report dated 18 December 2019.   The FHI inspection report also detailed "3,221 morts due to concussions due to increased Caligus [lice] burdens" with 73,459 morts (dead salmon) between 9 September and 13 October 2019.   Here's the Fish Health Inspectorate's 'Case Information' relating to an inspection of Mowi's Ardintoul salmon farm on 17 October 2019.  

 

 

 

Moribund Mowi: "At the time of the visit moribund fish & some floating mortalities were observed in all cages" @marinescotland https://t.co/qr0tO3BMVR 73,459 morts (3,221 due to concussions from increased Caligus burdens), Salmon Gill Poxvirus, AGD & Anaemia @MowiScotlandLtd pic.twitter.com/GulKfO5p5z

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 27, 2020

 

 

First official photos of lumpfish on salmon farms published by @marinescotland Infected with Aeromonas salmonicida (Furunculosis), Vibrio & Shewanella @MowiScotlandLtd https://t.co/qr0tO3BMVR 17,000 dead leading to treatment with antibiotic (Aquatet/Oxytetracycline) @APHAgovuk pic.twitter.com/nYXDBnWfkx

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 27, 2020

 

 

Here's photos obtained by Scottish Salmon Watch during a visit to Ardintoul on 2 November 2019 (two weeks after the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate visited):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tourist operator Nigel Smith has reported seals slaughtered in Loch Alsh (a Special Area of Conservation and Marine Protected Area) with shocking photos of dead seals naming and shaming Marine Harvest (re-named Mowi in 2019).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BBC News reported in 2005:

 

 

 

BBC News reported in 2008:

 

 

 

The death of Clive Henry in February 2020 is not the first time Mowi (renamed from Marine Harvest in 2019 due to "negative consumer perception") has been criticised following a fatality at one of its salmon farms.  BBC News reported in 2007:

 

 

 

 

BBC News reported in 2006:

 

 

BBC News reported in 2006:

 

 

 

The price of the life of a worker is apparently negotiable and judged by previous fines handed out to salmon farming companies Mowi could expect a fine anywhere between £300,000 to £166,667. 

 

 

https://t.co/X8AK2PMRS8 pic.twitter.com/ZlP9lXz4wJ

— Salmon Farming 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇨🇦🇨🇱🇳🇴🇫🇴 (@Salmoncon) February 12, 2020

 

 

 

BBC News reported in January 2012:

 

 

In Chile, the price of a dead salmon farm worker appears higher.  In 2009, the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet reported on deaths of workers in Chile at Cermaq and Marine Harvest (before 1 January 2019, Mowi was named Marine Harvest).

 

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in February 2020:

 

 

 

 

Mowi can afford to pay any fine.    Earlier month (19 May 2021), Mowi reported operational revenues of EUR 1 022 million (EUR 885 million) for Q1 2021 and in 2020 the Norwegian-owned company had a turnover of EUR 3.8 billion.  Mowi's owner is John Fredriksen - nicknamed 'Big Wolf', the 'Viking Raider' and McFreddy - and he is worth ca. $10 billion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more about the Norwegian salmoney behind Mowi's salmonopoly via 'Scottish Scamon'.

 

 

 

 

Mowi's Ben Hadfield - who is personally responsible for the lethal operations of Mowi Scotland - earned $1 million in 2019.

 

 

Mowi's money men rake in million$ as tens of million$ of farmed $almon die a cruel death https://t.co/2ivoCyccKX Ben Hadfield @MowiScotlandLtd is fast catching up with Steve Austin coining in a cool $1 million in 2019 #Salmoney #Salmonopoly #Salmafia @IntraFishNorge pic.twitter.com/QuYumDLUCa

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 26, 2020

 

 

 

Intrafish reported (25 March 2021):

 

 

 

Revealed: Mowi Scotland's Ben Hadfield earned €962,000 (that's a staggering $1.1 million or £831,000) in 2020! https://t.co/y59RCkPITn @Salmon_Business @ScotlandMowi @MowiScotlandLtd #Salmoney #Salmonopoly #Salmafia
The 'Polluter Gets Paid Principle' in action! @ScottishEPA pic.twitter.com/wp5wSUcOqX

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 24, 2021

 

 

 

Read more via:

Complaint re. MOWI's reckless behaviour & subsequent fatality in Loch Alsh

Deadly Mowi - the Horror Story Continues!

Probe launched following death of Highland fish farm worker

"Leave Our Farms Alone" Demand Mowi. Here's What They're Hiding & Why Mowi Want the Public to Keep Away!

Fighting Mowi's Legal Action Over Filming at Salmon Farms

Caught on Camera - Mowi's Reckless Breaches of Health & Safety in Loch Alsh

 

 

 

Who are the toxic team lurking behind Benchmark's BMK08 (Imidacloprid) in Scottish salmon pharming?

 

 

Meet the toxic team behind the use of the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in Scottish salmon pharming! https://t.co/AvF9wXoiNh @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @marinescotland @ScottishEPA @MairiMcAllan @MairiGougeon @GreenerScotland #Imidacloprid #BMK08 #Neonicotinoid #SEPA #Toxic pic.twitter.com/pH4c2aAZre

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 21, 2021

 

 

Norwegian-owned Benchmark - fuelled by Ferd's money which was made via the tobacco company Tiedemanns Tobaksfabrik - is banking on the commercial success of the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (BMK08) but delays in regulatory approval are costing it millions.  Fish Farming Expert reported earlier this week (18 May 2021).

 

Benchmark's Animal Health division, which is awaiting approval for the use of its BMK08 novel lice treatment [the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid] in Norway, made an H1 2021 operating loss of £2.6m (H1 2020: £2.7m loss) @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner https://t.co/9rdzsC9F7v

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 18, 2021

 

 

 

Fish Farmer magazine reported last month (16 April 2021) on new hires relating to the roll out of Benchmark's 'CleanTreat' system (the vehicle to use Imidacloprid/BMK08 - a toxic neonicotinoid banned for use in terrestrial agriculture in 2018 and marketed by Benchmark as 'Ectosan' when they launched it in 2017 and as D10 Aquatic Blast in a breakthrough pitch in 2014):

 

 

 

Warning: Toxic Neonicotinoid Use in Salmon Farming "Clears Another Hurdle"! @WeAreBenchmark appoint environmental modeller in Scotland for BMK08 (Imidacloprid) commercialisation via CleanTreat https://t.co/AcASvsOpsL @ScottishEPA @FerdOwner @ScotlandMowi @EMA_News @Bayer pic.twitter.com/dennERlTby

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 16, 2021

 

 

 

Find out more about Meghan Rochford's work via LinkedIn:

 

 

 

The Scottish Association for Marine Science position is described as a "Knowledge Transfer Partnership" funded by Marine Harvest (re-named Mowi in 2019).

 

 

 

Benchmark may have also hired former SEPA and Mowi environmental scientist Ewan Gillespie - his ResearchGate profile says he now works for Benchmark (although an article in Fish Farmer in February 2020 described Gillespie as "now retired").

 

 

 

 

An Environmental Impact Assessment authored by Marine Harvest in 2018 includes Ewan Gillespie's biography:

 

 

 

From information detailed via patent applications we also know the brains behind BMK08 (Imidacloprid).  A patent filed in Canada (CA3045239A1) in December 2017 (published in June 2018 & described as a 'National Entry' in May 2019) lifted the lid on how Norwegian-owned Benchmark plans to use the toxic neonicotinoid insecticide Imidacloprid in salmon farming - including Scotland - with the addresses of the inventors John Marshall, Matthew Longshaw and Elizabeth Appleyard listed:

 

 

Benchmark's patent for use of the toxic neonicotinoid insecticide Imidacloprid in salmon farming concedes it is a "potentially hazardous agent in the field" & that "leakage" can occur with "loss of agent in the environment" https://t.co/QfeF31RAiM @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner pic.twitter.com/IPjorjqtmO

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 26, 2020

 

 

Matthew Longshaw's LinkedIn profile shows that he worked for Benchmark from January 2014 to September 2020 (potentially at Benchmark's Ardtoe marine laboratory where CleanTreat and BMK08/Imidacloprid/Ectosan were "developed over a ten year period"):

 

 

 

Here's John Marshall's LinkedIn profile:

 

 

 

John Marshall is listed as one of Benchmark's 'Operations Board':

 

 

The third 'inventor' of the use of the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in salmon farming via CleanTreat is Elizabeth Appleyard - who appears to be Beth Appleyard on LinkedIn.

 

 

 

Benchmark's John Marshall and Neil Robertson have heavily lobbied the Scottish Government and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.  Documents obtained via Freedom of Information in December 2019 from the Scottish Government revealed that Benchmark had met with the Scottish Government in September 2019 following a "positive" approach by Fergus Ewing (Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy) who wrote that "Scotland is open for business":

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Documents disclosed via FOI by the Scottish Government in December 2019 reveal that Benchmark's John Marshall and Neil Robertson met inside the Scottish Parliament with Fergus Ewing (who this week was removed from the Cabinet) and Scottish Government staff in September 2019.

 

 

 

Read the dirt on 'Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon' https://t.co/kaJhjYXHNi @WeAreBenchmark @FergusEwingMSP @SSPOsays @MowiScotlandLtd @ScottishEPA @marinescotland @scotgov @salmon_scottish @vmdgovuk @fishfarmermag @IntraFishNorge @undercur @salmonfarming1 @Salmon_Business pic.twitter.com/bDeAQvF4aj

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 29, 2019

 

 

 

Unfortunately, a great deal of information was redacted but biographies of Benchmark's John Marshall (one of the three 'inventors' of the use of Imidacloprid in salmon farming via CleanTreat) and Neil Robertson were disclosed.

 

 

 

 

Hopefully SEPA's forthcoming FOI disclosure - ordered by the Scottish Information Commissioner to be disclosed by 7 June 2021 - will reveal more including details of meetings with Benchmark.  A FOI reply in November 2019 revealed that Benchmark had met with SEPA on five occasions between October 2018 and September 2019.

 

 

 

Benchmark makes £2m loss https://t.co/mhvkQR1FbW @salmonfarming1 "Increased expenditure related to launch preparations for its new lice treatment, BMK08" @WeAreBenchmark Regulatory dossier submitted @ScottishEPA @marinescotland Still no public disclosure!! https://t.co/pAgebu4rzW pic.twitter.com/55zirsZ8YM

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 28, 2020

SEPA refuse to disclose information on the use of the toxic neonicotinoid insecticide Imidacloprid in salmon farming citing commercial confidentiality https://t.co/6dqW4x0iel @ScottishEPA @FOIScotland If disclosed it would prejudice economic interests @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner pic.twitter.com/m88qS2Tv2A

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 30, 2020

 

When will Scottish salmon's toxic secrets be revealed? Will the public discover the ecological risks of Imidacloprid (BMK08) AFTER it has been approved?!
It's been over a year since an FOI appeal was filed! @FOIScotland @ScottishEPA @WeAreBenchmark https://t.co/AcASvswO4b pic.twitter.com/0ZaL7Nq54c

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 17, 2021

 

 

 

Fish Farmer magazine reported in February 2020 that more than 35,000 tonnes of Norwegian farmed salmon at five farms had been treated with Imidacloprid (BMK08) "over the past 24 months":

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It also seems likely that BMK08/Ectosan (Imidacloprid) was used - perhaps illegally, certainly secretly - during the decade-long developmental phase of research at Benchmark's marine laboratory at Ardtoe on the West coast of Scotland. 

 

Secret Salmon - On the Trail of Imidacloprid Use in Scotland https://t.co/u2ulxotaTN Has the toxic neonicotinoid been used illegally @WeAreBenchmark @FAIfarms at Ardtoe marine laboratory? @ScottishEPA @marinescotland @vmdgovuk @FerdOwner @MowiScotlandLtd @FergusEwingMSP #BMK08 pic.twitter.com/LwP1twMoQW

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 4, 2020

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch visited the FAI Aquaculture Marine Laboratory in Ardtoe in August 2020 - the Benchmark-owned facility which developed their CleanTreat system "over a 10 year period":

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Scottish Salmon Watch visited Ardtoe in July 2020 it looked deserted with rumours that Benchmark had mothballed the marine research facility (it sold off the Fish Vet Group in July 2020 and sold off other non-core businesses in June 2020).

 

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch visited Ardtoe in July 2019 (Benchmark denied a polite request for a site visit):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benchmark's FAI Aquaculture web-site referred back in 2020 (it has now been removed) to "the need to maximise the sustainability and minimise the environmental impact of the technologies, and practices we develop" but there is no mention of the use of the neonicotinoid insecticide Imidacloprid or the 'CleanTreat' system which was developed over a 10-year period at Ardtoe.

 

 

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in May 2020 that Mowi had lobbied the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in March 2020 to support a field trial of Imidacloprid in Loch Ailort (a site visited by Prince Philip in 1974 leading to a Royal Warrant for Mowi - then called Marine Harvest).

 

Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid? https://t.co/S1ovGqCpu7 FOI reveals proposed 'field trial' of toxic neonicotinoid @MowiScotlandLtd at Ardnish in Loch Ailort @ScottishEPA @WeAreBenchmark @marinescotland @FerdOwner @vmdgovuk #BMK08 pic.twitter.com/iUl9lk7XPv

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 20, 2020

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch and The Ferret revealed in March 2020 that BMK08 (known as Ectosan until late 2019) was Imidacloprid following a tip-off that Mowi had sought approval via the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.  Benchmark's largest owner is Norwegian tobacco billionaire Johan Andresen who rather paradoxically is Chair of Norway's Council on Ethics who polices 'ethical' investment including in 'Scottish' salmon farming.

 

Meet the filthy rich Norwegian tobacco billionaire @FerdOwner desperate to 'CleanTreat' parasite-infested pharmed salmon with the toxic neonicotinoid insecticide Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan) @WeAreBenchmark https://t.co/ORQS4EAeDS #Salmoney #Salmonopoly https://t.co/u5aJ4cQ1eS pic.twitter.com/2zh6cxBdeg

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 18, 2020

 

 

"It's the tasty one," said a cigarette ad for Tiedemanns Tobaksfabrik (biggest tobacco company in Norway) @FerdOwner https://t.co/Pv7Npg9mWB "Setting a new standard in environmental care for sea lice bath treatments," claims CleanTreat @WeAreBenchmark #BlowingSmoke #Imidacloprid pic.twitter.com/SE0xCB38FC

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 19, 2020

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in July 2020:

 

Meet the men peddling the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (banned for use in agriculture in 2018) on salmon pharming @FergusEwingMSP @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner https://t.co/mVDGK0VwhZ @MowiScotlandLtd @vmdgovuk @ScottishEPA @nature_scot @scotseafarms @salmon_scottish @SSPOsays pic.twitter.com/UyVpoCJIFp

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 1, 2020

 

 

 

The Ferret reported in September 2018 that Fergus Ewing was pushing the use of a neonicotinoid chemical in the forestry sector:

 

 

In November 2018 (following a meeting with Benchmark in October 2018), FOI documents disclosed by the Scottish Government reveal that Fergus Ewing lobbied to speed up trials which Norwegian salmon farming giant Marine Harvest (renamed Mowi on 1 January 2019 despite objections from the Mowinckel family) wanted "to get off the ground as soon as possible". 

 

 

In May 2020, the Scottish Greens wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for the Environment (Roseanna Cunningham) "deeply concerned" at the use of Imidacloprid in salmon farming following the revelation that Mowi had lobbied SEPA to support a field trial in Loch Ailort.

 

 

Scottish Greens "deeply concerned" at Mowi's field trial of Neonicotinoid @markruskell @strathearnrose @scotgp @FergusEwingMSP @SP_ECCLR @ScottishEPA "Imidacloprid has been classed as an environmental hazard" @WeAreBenchmark @MowiScotlandLtd @vmdgovuk https://t.co/KTgbs4GnNM pic.twitter.com/ESCXnu1TOM

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 21, 2020

 

 

Imidacloprid - Banned because it's extremely toxic to aquatic life and hazardous to the aquatic environment. Who would think that allwoing it to be used in Scottish salmon farms would be a good idea? @FergusEwingMSP @scotgov - that's who. https://t.co/oqDbIkdDsS

— stuartll (@stuartpengs) June 8, 2020

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch has repeatedly asked Benchmark to provide details on BMK08 and CleanTreat but have been refused due to the information being deemed "commercially sensitive".  Benchmark's Communications Manager wrote in January 2020:

 

From: Rachel Aninakwah <rachel.aninakwah@bmkholdings.com>
Date: Thu, Jan 23, 2020 at 8:21 AM
Subject: Re: Visit to CleanTreat's operations in early 2020?
To: salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>

Dear Don, 

Many thanks for your interest in Benchmark’s CleanTreat purification system.

Our new sea lice treatment, BMK08, is currently in development phase and is therefore commercially sensitive and due to regulations we are constrained about the extent to which we can provide information. The CleanTreat system is demobilised until further trials are planned so we are unable to offer a visit at this time.

We would be happy to share with you the publicly available information on CleanTreat in the meantime. The CleanTreat webpage here explains the CleanTreat process in more detail.

Kind regards,

Rachel

Rachel Aninakwah

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

+44 (0) 203 696 0630

rachel.aninakwah@bmkholdings.com 

benchmarkplc.com

14 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4QH

 

 

Benchmark's Communications Manager wrote in May 2020:

 

From: Rachel Aninakwah <rachel.aninakwah@bmkholdings.com>
Date: Fri, May 29, 2020 at 2:59 PM
Subject: Re: Field trials of Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan) in Scotland?
To: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>

Dear Don,

Thank you for your inquiry and for your interest. We are currently unable to accept visits.  For more information on our treatment system, please visit