The operation of feed barges - storage units moored at salmon farms which are used to deliver pellets of food to farmed salmon - raises serious public safety and environmental issues. In the wake of a spate of sinkings across Scotland (and Iceland), questions must now be asked of both barge manufacturers such as Gael Force and salmon farm operators such as Bakkafrost, Mowi and Grieg Seafood (Scottish Sea Farms).
Here's video footage overlooking two salmon farms operated by Bakkafrost (formerly known as The Scottish Salmon Company) off Portree on the Isle of Skye shot on a calm Summer day in September 2020 - notice the 400 tonne feed barge listing under the weight of the feed (ca. 350 tonnes were on board when it sank during Storm Arwen in November 2021), chemical containers, equipment, machinery and mort bins weighing down the floating structure:
And here's a close-up of the overloaded barge shot from a boat in September 2020 - imagine this in the heavy winds and swells of Storm Arwen (the storm raging in November 2021 when the Gael Force barge sank to the bottom of Loch Portree/Sound of Raasay):
Sold as a state of the art barge and in a sheltered location compared with others…The Portree barge sank. Is there a design fault? Was it poorly maintained? Or was it not fit for purpose? I think we need some statement as to the root cause with the numbers of these out there. pic.twitter.com/VaMNrD34xm
In Iceland, the salvage of feed barge from under a salmon farm was featured on the news in August 2022 - including video footage of the salvage operation:
The Scottish Salmon Company (since renamed Bakkafrost) published a video via Friday Film Productions in 2018 showing off the new Gael Force feed barge off Portree (in the photo below - sourced from the video - you can see how close the town of Portree is to the salmon farm):
A video tour of a Gael Force SeaMate 400 tonne concrete feed barge destined for Mowi - understood to be similar to the one bought by Bakkafrost for their Portree salmon farm - is available online here:
“The design and build of one of our most advanced feed barges along with an eight-line SeaFeed feeding system for SSC is yet another example of our commitment to innovate in this sector.
“The build epitomised the type of collaborative approach we like to take with our customers, and by doing this we ensured we addressed all SSC’s needs from the outset which will enable them to safely and sustainably grow their fish.”
Today's Times newspaper: "Secret plans were drawn up for residents to be evacuated from one of Scotland’s most popular tourist destinations amid fears that a sunken barge could explode and spew toxic gases towards the shore, it has emerged" @timesscotlandhttps://t.co/kKcietvNSf
Breaking News: potentially lethal toxic gasses leaking from a sunken feed barge at Bakkafrost salmon farm off Portree suspend salvage operation with 24 hour guard & exclusion zone @briggsmarine Why has the public not been informed of the risks? @ScottishEPA@MairiMcAllan@H_S_Epic.twitter.com/avM09qC0Yp
Tip-off re. Bakkafrost off Portree: "Their feed barge sank end of last year...a few weeks ago divers [trying to raise it]...stopped as there was found to be very high levels of toxic gasses....this has lead to an exclusion zone....there is a 24hr guard" True? @ScottishEPApic.twitter.com/sus4ZLFyqh
Like all accidents, we get to hear what went wrong & who pays for the mess? Is there tax payers money being spent to cover the cracks? Regulatory bodies working on this for free? Money to support overseas companies polluting? Money to hide ineptitude,poor practice, poor training? pic.twitter.com/NuIk2oO4t5
Loch Duart's marketing slogan is "unrivalled Scottish salmon" (it used to be "the Sustainable Salmon Company" but that was dropped after @ASA_UK invervention) - 50.3% mortality @rspcaassured in the Sound of Harris beats most of their rivals for sure! @ScotlandSalmon@RSPCAChrispic.twitter.com/YKdu04E3Dg
Watch a BBC report from October 2018 on how Loch Duart's 'cleaner fish' supplier was caught catching fish in a 'No Take Zone' (leading to the suspension of the supplier):
Burning Question: A Risk Assessment by HAZMAT emergency responders Vanderpers highlighted a 'High' risk of exposure to the public from toxic Hydrogen Sulphide gas & 'Low' risk of "exposure to explosion" in Portree https://t.co/3x9UugzrFs Why the f*** was there no public warning? pic.twitter.com/hZNPbey74T
When "explosive" Hydrogen Sulphide gases at 55,000 ppm were detected in August off Portree the authorities planned for a 'worst case scenario' & emergency response due to explosion risk. Yet they failed to issue a public warning! @fire_scot@PoliceScotland@NHSScotland@scotgovpic.twitter.com/FNI1ya2Mld
Today's Times newspaper: "Secret plans were drawn up for residents to be evacuated from one of Scotland’s most popular tourist destinations amid fears that a sunken barge could explode and spew toxic gases towards the shore, it has emerged" @timesscotlandhttps://t.co/kKcietvNSf
Here's a Risk Assessment from Vanderpers Maritime dated 16 August 2022 in relation to the risk of exposure to the public from toxic Hydrogen Sulphide gas and public risk of exposure to explosion from a sunken feed barge at Bakkafrost's salmon farm off Portree on the Isle of Skye:
Burning Question: A Risk Assessment by HAZMAT emergency responders Vanderpers highlighted a 'High' risk of exposure to the public from toxic Hydrogen Sulphide gas & 'Low' risk of "exposure to explosion" in Portree https://t.co/3x9UugzrFs Why the f*** was there no public warning? pic.twitter.com/hZNPbey74T
When "explosive" Hydrogen Sulphide gases at 55,000 ppm were detected in August off Portree the authorities planned for a 'worst case scenario' & emergency response due to explosion risk. Yet they failed to issue a public warning! @fire_scot@PoliceScotland@NHSScotland@scotgovpic.twitter.com/FNI1ya2Mld
Questions are now being asked why Bakkafrost (called The Scottish Salmon Company until June 2022) continued to operate their farm off Portree whilst toxic gases were leaking underwater.
$almoney: Instead of pumping feed out of sunken barge - which is "extremely expensive" - Norwegian/Faroese giant Bakkafrost left it to rot on the seabed for nearly a year & continued to farm salmon off Portree precipitating "explosive" levels of toxic gas https://t.co/ETYEv0SntCpic.twitter.com/IThNzKgDel
Data @ScotlandSalmon shows Bakkafrost continued to farm salmon above the leaking feed barge off Portree until June 2022 - that's a six month toxic marinade after the sinking in Nov 2021. It puts a whole new spin on smoked & flame-grilled Scottish salmon! https://t.co/SoNPFvPXOApic.twitter.com/vcdOsDW0iM
How long will Bakkafrost's sunken feed barge remain rotting on the bottom of Loch Portree and when will Bakkafrost report the financial fallout from the sinking and clusterfuck of a salvage operation to their shareholders and the Norwegian stock exchange (Bakkafrost's largest shareholder is the Norwegian Government)?
From: Don Staniford<salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> Date: Mon, Nov 14, 2022 at 5:09 AM Subject: Re: Toxic Gasses at Bakkafrost Scotland? To: <toda@bakkafrost.com>, <sasi@bakkafrost.com>, <ruw@havsbrun.fo>, <reja@bakkafrost.com> Cc: <dougie.macleod@scottishsalmon.com>
Further to $camon Scotland's email of 30 August 2022 (still unanswered), could you please provide an update on the state of the salvage operation off Portree including any public/environmental risks arising from leaking toxic gases?
When will Bakkafrost be reporting the financial costs of the salvage operation to the Oslo stock exchange (I understand there are disclosure rules under the Norwegian Securities Trading Act) and Bakkafrost shareholders (the largest being the Norwegian Government as represented by Folketrygdfondet)?
Documents obtained via FOI detail the "explosive" nature of Bakkafrost's feed barge, the public risks from explosion (Hydrogen Sulphide toxic gases were found in August at 55,000 ppm - levels within the "explosive range") and legal action between Bakkafrost and Briggs Marine (which presumably adds to the costs):
From: Don Staniford<salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> Date: Tue, Aug 30, 2022 at 12:52 PM Subject: Toxic Gasses at Bakkafrost Scotland? To: <toda@bakkafrost.com>, <sasi@bakkafrost.com>, <ruw@havsbrun.fo>, <reja@bakkafrost.com> Cc: <dougie.macleod@scottishsalmon.com>
Can Bakkafrost please comment publicly on the toxic gasses spewing from a sunken feed barge off Portree on the Isle of Skye?
Note that the salvage of a feed barge in Loch Dunvegan [correction: Loch Snizort] on the Isle of Skye by Grieg Seafood cost ca. £1 million (and there was no feed reported in the sunken barge):
In Q1 2018, Grieg Seafood reported financial losses of NOK 10 million (£921,000) due to raising a sunken feed barge in Loch Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye @GriegShetlandhttps://t.co/vWhNUISwmL The feed barge sank in 2017 but was not raised until late 2021 https://t.co/Cef3o2IuK8
When "explosive" gases were found at 55,000 ppm under a salmon farm off Portree, Bakkafrost emailed late on a Friday afternoon & then "tried to call a few numbers" on Saturday. "Both [redacted] & myself have been available all weekend & have no missed calls?" said @MCA_mediapic.twitter.com/wYcp31x8uK
When "explosive" Hydrogen Sulphide gases at 55,000 ppm were detected in August off Portree the authorities planned for a 'worst case scenario' & emergency response due to explosion risk. Yet they failed to issue a public warning! @fire_scot@PoliceScotland@NHSScotland@scotgovpic.twitter.com/FNI1ya2Mld
Here's drone footage of the Portree salmon farms shot in August 2022 with the 24 hour guard boat patrolling the exclusion zone around the site:
Scottish Salmon Watch visited the salmon farms off Portree (Loch Portree/Torvaig and Outer Portree) in November 2019 - with the feed barge visible (it was only launched in September 2018):
ADDENDUM:
From: Briggs Marine<enquiries@briggsmarine.com> Date: Mon, Nov 14, 2022 at 9:46 AM Subject: Re: FOI documents on Portree feed barge To: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Erica Skoukine (Briggs Marine)
14 Nov 2022, 09:46 GMT
Hi Don,
Briggs Marine was awarded a contract by Bakkafrost Scotland to salvage the sunken feed barge and its cargo. Following the discovery of significant levels of hydrogen sulphide within the wreck, all appropriate precautionary and safety measures have been taken in close consultation with the relevant local authorities and stakeholders. Following a payment dispute with Bakkafrost, Briggs have demobilised from the site and legal proceedings have commenced.
Further to our above statement, as we are currently in dispute with Bakkafrost, we do not feel it appropriate to comment at this time.
Kind regards Erica
Statement: "Briggs Marine was awarded a contract by Bakkafrost Scotland to salvage the sunken feed barge & its cargo. Following a payment dispute with Bakkafrost, Briggs have demobilised from the site & legal proceedings have commenced" https://t.co/ETYEv0Aefu@Folketrygdfondpic.twitter.com/mFau7iA8aX
Were you aware of the "explosive" risk to public health from a feed barge off Portree?
A FOI disclosure by the Scottish Government on Friday (11 November) detailed various emails - including to Highland councillors - regarding the risk of "explosion" including Highland Council offices in Portree being used as an 'emergency response centre' and Portree High School as a 'rest centre' should toxic gases come onshore:
The documents above raise serious questions re. the lack of public warning - to walkers along the coastal path near the salmon farm, divers, swimmers, kayakers, boats and tourists (including 'The World' cruise liner which visited Portree during the height of the "explosion" risk).
What actions did you take to notify your constituents of the "explosive" risk to public health?
It beggars belief that Highland Council issued no public warning in August (they were notified on 12 August of toxic gases at 55,000 ppm - that's in the "explosive range").
Yet on 2 September, Highland Council issued a 'media reassurance' following public concerns from Portree residents after a BBC News story on 30 August ($camon $scotland broke the story earlier that morning following a tip-off from Portree).
$camon $cotland understands that the barge still needs to be salvaged (see email below to Portree Harbour Master). An update would be much appreciated.
From: Don Staniford<salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> Date: Mon, Nov 14, 2022 at 6:59 AM Subject: Salvage off Portree on Isle of Skye? To: <operations@marinemasters.nl>, <h.smith@marinemasters.nl>, <d.spaans@marinemasters.nl>
Do you have an update on the salvage operation of a Bakkafrost feed barge off Portree on the Isle of Skye?
Will the salvage be completed before 25 November? I understand that Bakkafrost have 12 months from the sinking on 26 November 2021 to salvage the barge or they need to apply for a licence.
Do you know how much the salvage operation will cost?
The FOI disclosure also refers to legal action between Briggs Marine and Bakkafrost - with Briggs Marine informing $camon $cotland last week that "our departure was due to a commercial dispute regarding payment".
Any information you could provide would be much appreciated.
Don Staniford
$camon $cotland
This story is HUGE! On 26 November 2021 a barge loaded with fish food for the caged salmon in Portree Bay sank. Instead of salvaging it the company left it on the seabed. Why? Well, perhaps since recovering it could have cost more than it was worth. So, keep calm and carry on? https://t.co/pjxCQEPqYp
From: Don Staniford<salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> Date: Mon, Nov 14, 2022 at 5:40 AM Subject: "Explosive" Hydrogen Sulphide risk from sunken barge off Portree To: <Sergejs.Vozmitels@highland.gov.uk>
As Portree Harbour Master, could you please provide an update on the latest situation with respect to Bakkafrost's sunken feed barge off Portree?
Is an exclusion zone still in place?
Did you issue any public warnings when toxic Hydrogen Sulphide gases at 55,000 ppm - within the "explosive range" - were reported in August?
I understand that a 'Notice to Mariners' was issued on 5 August re. the salvage operation taking place but I cannot find any 'Notice to Mariners' or any warning to the public re. the "explosive" gases.
From: Don Staniford<salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> Date: Mon, Nov 14, 2022 at 5:30 AM Subject: Bakkafrost's "explosive" problem in Scotland To: <folketrygdfondet@ftf.no>, <marika.burvald@ftf.no>, <postmottak@nfd.dep.no>, <nils.bastiansen@ftf.no>
As the largest shareholder in Bakkafrost has the Norwegian Government been officially notified of Bakkafrost's deepening problems in Scotland?
Please see below for correspondence with Bakkafrost.
Almost two years ago, Scottish Salmon Watch (since renamed $camon $cotland) wrote to you demanding divestment in salmon unethical and irresponsible salmon farming companies in Scotland:
Far from improving, the situation is clearly getting worse. How can the Norwegian Government support the 'King of Death'?
Takk,
Don Staniford
$camon $cotland
From: Don Staniford<salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> Date: Mon, Nov 14, 2022 at 5:09 AM Subject: Re: Toxic Gasses at Bakkafrost Scotland? To: <toda@bakkafrost.com>, <sasi@bakkafrost.com>, <ruw@havsbrun.fo>, <reja@bakkafrost.com> Cc: <dougie.macleod@scottishsalmon.com>
Further to $camon Scotland's email of 30 August 2022 (still unanswered), could you please provide an update on the state of the salvage operation off Portree including any public/environmental risks arising from leaking toxic gases?
When will Bakkafrost be reporting the financial costs of the salvage operation to the Oslo stock exchange (I understand there are disclosure rules under the Norwegian Securities Trading Act) and Bakkafrost shareholders (the largest being the Norwegian Government as represented by Folketrygdfondet)?
Documents obtained via FOI detail the "explosive" nature of Bakkafrost's feed barge, the public risks from explosion (Hydrogen Sulphide toxic gases were found in August at 55,000 ppm - levels within the "explosive range") and legal action between Bakkafrost and Briggs Marine (which presumably adds to the costs):
From: Don Staniford<salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> Date: Tue, Aug 30, 2022 at 12:52 PM Subject: Toxic Gasses at Bakkafrost Scotland? To: <toda@bakkafrost.com>, <sasi@bakkafrost.com>, <ruw@havsbrun.fo>, <reja@bakkafrost.com> Cc: <dougie.macleod@scottishsalmon.com>
Can Bakkafrost please comment publicly on the toxic gasses spewing from a sunken feed barge off Portree on the Isle of Skye?
Surely Bakkafrost has a duty to report such losses to shareholders and stock exchange?
Thanks,
Don Staniford
Director, $camon $cotland
$almoney: Instead of pumping feed out of sunken barge - which is "extremely expensive" - Norwegian/Faroese giant Bakkafrost left it to rot on the seabed for nearly a year & continued to farm salmon off Portree precipitating "explosive" levels of toxic gas https://t.co/ETYEv0SntCpic.twitter.com/IThNzKgDel
When "explosive" Hydrogen Sulphide gases at 55,000 ppm were detected in August off Portree the authorities planned for a 'worst case scenario' & emergency response due to explosion risk. Yet they failed to issue a public warning! @fire_scot@PoliceScotland@NHSScotland@scotgovpic.twitter.com/FNI1ya2Mld
Read the Remembrance Day message - which also calls on supermarkets and certification bodies to stop greenwashing Scottish salmon - in full online here
From: Don Staniford<salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> Date: Fri, Nov 11, 2022 at 10:42 AM Subject: Remembrance Day Plea for the Millions of Farmed Salmon Killed in Scotland Every Year To: <scottish.ministers@gov.scot>
As the world stops to remember the estimated 50 million people who died during World War II, please spare a brief thought for the estimated 50 million farmed salmon who die cruel deaths and suffer unnecessarily each year inside salmon farms across Scotland. Here's a letter sent to Scottish Ministers, APHA, RSPCA Assured, SSPCA and other parties this morning (11 November 2022)
$camon $cotland urges the government authorities; certification bodies responsible for greenwashing Scottish salmon; supermarkets who fraudulently market Scottish salmon as “responsibly sourced”; and animal welfare groups who turn a blind eye to abuse inside salmon farms to close the net on the mortality, disease and welfare nightmare of Scottish salmon.
If we wait until mortality data is published for October 2022 and beyond then it will be too late to save tens of millions of Atlantic salmon suffering unnecessarily inside cages in Scotland. Immediate action needs to be taken now – please intervene as a matter of urgency.
Back in July 2018, Scottish Salmon Watch warned the Animal & Plant Health Agency and Police Scotland’s Wildlife Crime Unit that the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 was being systematically breached by salmon farms across Scotland. Yet over four years later the problems are significantly worse. The industry-wide scale of mass mortalities – and undercover evidence of abuse - warrants urgent site inspections of all salmon farms by welfare agencies.
In the meantime, $camon $cotland has called for the immediate suspension of certification and accreditation of ‘responsibly sourced’ Scottish salmon via RSPCA Assured and the ASC (as well as Label Rouge and the Soil Association). The shameless greenwashing of Scottish salmon must be stopped dead in its tracks.
Continued government inaction by APHA– including their woeful lack of enforcement of welfare laws - is both unacceptable and unlawful. Similarly, amidst a rising tide of dead salmon, Scottish Ministers are ignoring their statutory duties under animal welfare laws.
It remains to be seen whether the Scottish Veterinary Service – which is scheduled to replace APHA in Scotland – will clamp down on endemic suffering and welfare abuse inside salmon farms. In the absence of APHA enforcement and inspection, $camon $cotland urges the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (welfare issues on salmon farms were identified in a work plan published in July 2022) and the Scottish Parliament Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee to scrutinize the alarming mortality rates on salmon farms.
Consumers can take action too by joining the global boycott against farmed salmon and supporting WildFish’s ‘Off the Table’ campaign.
"We now expect clear & decisive action to rein in the exploitation of communities by international fish farm operators riding rough-shod over inadequate regulatory watchdogs" wrote Save Papay in a letter to Scotland's Env Minister @MairiMcAllan@scotgovhttps://t.co/P4URR4ctTgpic.twitter.com/o99yl3PuJb
Annus Horribilis Salmonis: Mowi's "Troublesome Year" in Scotland https://t.co/wW3RQnMWTD 2022 farmed salmon production predicted to be 50,000 tonnes - down 22% on the 64,400 tonnes in 2021. "Our Scottish farming operations has experienced a troublesome year" @MowiScotlandLtdpic.twitter.com/hRwvuUHmQU
You don't have to be as brainy as Albert Einstein to work out that this represents a 32,400 tonne negative hit for salmon farming in Scotland or that 32,400 tonnes of lost production out of an annual production forecast this year as ca. 190,000 tonnes represents a significant loss.
If other companies are experiencing the same level of problems - and it appears that Loch Duart (Scotland's #5 salmon farmer) is being ravaged in Loch Carnan - then the black hole could be more than 40,000 tonnes of lost salmon farming production this year.
"In 2021, production of Atlantic salmon increased by 13,264 tonnes (7%) to 205,393 tonnes" @scotgov "This is the highest level of production recorded in Scotland" https://t.co/IKKHsFvRlY No need to mention that 2022 production will fall 8% to 189,693 tonnes! @ScotlandSalmonpic.twitter.com/qJTIEokvfJ
However, the predicted fall from 205,393 tonnes of Scottish farmed salmon in 2021 to 189,693 tonnes in 2022 (that represents a 7.6% fall) does not tell the whole story. A look at the 'Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2020' (published in September 2021) gives a glimpse of the growing black hole which surprised industry forecasters. Note here that 236,000 tonnes was predicted in 2021 but only 205,393 tonnes was actually reported (a 13% shortfall in predicted vs actual production):
Missing (Presumed Dead): what happened to the 30,607 tonnes of missing Scottish salmon in 2021! The 2020 survey @scotgov predicted 236,000 tonnes in 2021 https://t.co/jhk6tKXCS2 The 2021 survey reported 205,393 tonnes with only 189,693 tonnes predicted in 2022! @ScotlandSalmonpic.twitter.com/iOFq4CqAKn
How may farmed salmon died in Scotland last year? We don't know because @ScottishEPA stopped publishing the data in 2013 after @ScotlandSalmon lobbied vs disclosure arguing publication would be 'commercially damaging'. But based on previous data it could be 22 million morts! pic.twitter.com/7b7YeE00Xw
Einstein, Pythagoras, Tao as well as Matt Damon in the film 'Good Will Hunting' would all struggle to decipher the conundrum that is Scottish salmon's mortality problem.
The Norwegian co-owner of RSPCA Assured Norskott Havbruk (Scottish Sea Farms) - exclusive supplier to high-end retailer Marks & Spencer - dropped another bombshell today (10 November 2022) when SalMar's Q3 2022 financial results revealed a 8,000 tonne shortfall in their salmon farming operations in Scotland (SalMar is co-owner of Norskott Havbruk with Norwegian giant Leroy Seafood).
"Volume guidance on Iceland is kept unchanged and for Scottish Sea Farms the volume guidance is reduced with 8,000 tonnes"
No explanation was given in SalMar's gushing press release (10 November 2022) of why 8,000 tonnes has suddenly been wiped off Norskott Havbruk's balance sheet but a partial answer to their "weak results" is outlined in SalMar's Q3 2022 presentation when it is admitted that "biological challenges" are plaguing Scottish Sea Farms:
Annus Horribilis Salmonis: Mowi's "Troublesome Year" in Scotland https://t.co/wW3RQnMWTD 2022 farmed salmon production predicted to be 50,000 tonnes - down 22% on the 64,400 tonnes in 2021. "Our Scottish farming operations has experienced a troublesome year" @MowiScotlandLtdpic.twitter.com/hRwvuUHmQU
$camon $cotland reported last month on death and disease at Norskott Havbruk (Scottish Sea Farms) in Loch Creran - a feedlot certified as 'responsible' via RSPCA Assured:
"Farmed fish are owed a duty of care & protection from unnecessary suffering under animal welfare law" (Edie Bowles @Animallawyersuk) "The findings in this most recent investigation suggest that these legal requirements are not being adequately enforced" @APHAgovuk@rspcaassuredpic.twitter.com/IRwR8UOLaP
Here's the salmon farms which harvested out during September 2022 - revealing their cumulative mortality rate (i.e. the % of fish which died from when the smolts were inputted into the cages to when they were culled for the market) - headed by Mowi's RSPCA Assured Noster salmon farm in Loch Seaforth:
Annus Horribilis Salmonis: Mowi's "Troublesome Year" in Scotland https://t.co/wW3RQnMWTD 2022 farmed salmon production predicted to be 50,000 tonnes - down 22% on the 64,400 tonnes in 2021. "Our Scottish farming operations has experienced a troublesome year" @MowiScotlandLtdpic.twitter.com/hRwvuUHmQU
Mowi's Q3 2022 report remembers Her Majesty the Queen with "pride" (a word nobody in their right mind could truthfully use in the same sentence as RSPCA Assured and ASC-certified Mowi Scotland):
Mowi's Q3 2022 presentation published earlier today (9 November 2022) cannot hide the problems in Scotland:
Delve down deeper into mortality data published by the salmon farming industry, the Scottish Government and Mowi themselves and the horrible nature of 2022 becomes all too clear. $camon $cotland reported last week (3 November 2022):
A closer examination of new mortality data published on 6 October 2022 by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate reveals which salmon farms in Scotland are the most deadly in terms of mass mortalities. Here's the list of Scottish salmon's worst serial killers since data was reported by salmon farming companies in 2017* - headed by hatcheries where mortalities are more pronounced in terms of numbers:
Mowi's Q2 2022 financial report published in August 2022 also detailed huge problems in Scotland:
Mowi's Q2 2022 report reveals that Scottish salmon farming production fell 32% from Q2 2021 (falling from 19,162 to 12,954 tonnes) due to disease problems such as AGD & CMS, treatment mortality & poor quality "externally sourced" eggs @MowiScotlandLtdhttps://t.co/7VPQLKsfHPpic.twitter.com/u6gmrCJUip
"Incident based mortality losses in the quarter amounted to EUR 2.8 million mainly related to gill issues, treatment mortality & predators...the biological situation has been negatively impacted by gill issues, including AGD, algae & jelly fish" https://t.co/7VPQLKsfHPpic.twitter.com/dSbvWnrbZq
STV News: "Given the gruesome nature of welfare abuse, mass mortalities & lice infestations it is not surprising that this Norwegian-owned behemoth wants to stop the public from finding out the ugly truth about Scottish salmon" https://t.co/HlRWu4RmVO@STVNews@giannilmarinipic.twitter.com/o8kveENGsj
However, mortality data published by the Scottish Government earlier this month (1 November 2022) reveals that the Applecross Hatchery/Smolt Unit is part of Bakkafrost's problems not the panacea. In fact, The Scottish Salmon Company (renamed Bakkafrost Scotland in June 2022 but still called The Scottish Salmon Company in the Scottish Government mortality database) has reported 21 'Mortality Event Reports' since July 2017 totalling 2.65 million morts (2,652,412 to be precise). Yet 12 of those 'Mortality Event Reports' - accounting for 2.45 million morts (2,449,227 to be precise) - were reported this year. In other words, mortality problems at Applecross are escalating at an alarming rate:
If you analyse the mortality data published by the Scottish Government earlier this month (1 November 2022) by year, it becomes clear that Bakkafrost's mortality mountain is rising higher than Ben Nevis with 4.65 million morts already reported in 2022 (data up to early October) compared to 1.23 million morts reported in 2019 and over 15 million morts reported by Bakkafrost/The Scottish Salmon Company since May 2015:
In other words, it's shaping up for one mort per pound invested in Bakkafrost Scotland/The Scottish Salmon Company by Highlands & Islands Enterprise and Marine Scotland (who invested £5 million of public money in December 2021)!
Here's the highest 'Mortality Event Reports' from Bakkafrost Scotland/The Scottish Salmon Company since 2015 - headed by Applecross Hatchery/Smolt Unit:
Hey taxpayer, @MairiGougeon gave £5MILLION of your cash to Faroese company Bakkafrost to build a salmon hatchery - in the name of “sustainable growth”.
"Our ambition is to become the leading most sustainable salmon producer in Scotland" said Bakkafrost Scotland. "The proactive management of the health & welfare of our salmon is at the forefront of our sustainability strategy" @ScotlandSalmonhttps://t.co/mos56zEnNG#Bollockspic.twitter.com/KYgJcfOROm
New charity connected to Advocates for Animals @AnimallawFDN and @animal_equality have produced a comprehensive report that assesses the enforcement of farm welfare law.
Animal Equality and @AnimallawFDN have released a groundbreaking new report investigating how animal protection laws are monitored and enforced. What we have found will shock you 👀
Edie Bowles @AnimallawFDN: "I have been exposed for a long time to what I now call 'The Enforcement Problem'. This is when a law exists on paper, but is grossly underenforced in practice, rendering its value questionable at best and redundant at worst" https://t.co/l7GkEzEXIVpic.twitter.com/KN3RQneR7f
Abigail Penny @animal_equality: "With an absence of inspections, lack of verifiable data, a failure to provide adequate deterrents & insufficient action when laws are broken, regulatory bodies are leaving major corporations to cause harm with impunity" https://t.co/l7GkEzW0KVpic.twitter.com/nMm3IHPI0U
The Animal Equality and Animal Law Foundation report - 'The Enforcement Problem' - highlighted the woeful lack of welfare enforcement and made specific reference to undercover investigations at salmon farms in Scotland:
Strangely, the Animal Equality and Animal Law Foundation report ignores specific reference to extensive undercover investigations inside salmon farms across Scotland carried out by Compassion in World Farming, Inside Scottish Salmon Feedlots, Scottish Salmon Watch and $camon $cotland.
Excellent research by Animal Equality UK @animal_equality and Animal Law Foundation @AnimallawFDN in today’s Graun: One in 300 animal welfare complaints at UK farms lead to prosecution – study. https://t.co/l18VrHyCNZ
Compassion in World Farming investigated 22 salmon farms in four months between September & December 2020 using cameras, drones & divers. APHA 'inspected' 22 salmon farms in six years (2014 to 2019)! How many did @rspcaassured inspect? https://t.co/vgp2qsBh4g@media_ciwfpic.twitter.com/jMBQsCJZUF
From: Don Staniford<salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> Date: Tue, Nov 8, 2022 at 2:05 PM Subject: FOI re. welfare of salmon farms since 1 April 2020 To: SM-APHA-Enquiries APHA <enquiries@apha.gov.uk>, <APHA.Scotland@apha.gov.uk> Cc: APHA Corporate Correspondence <apha.corporatecorrespondence@apha.gsi.gov.uk>
Please provide information on welfare inspections, welfare assessments, welfare investigations and welfare abuse relating to salmon farms in Scotland since 1 April 2020.
Please include letters, enforcement notices, emails, photos, videos, inspection reports, documents and any other information relating to welfare abuse, welfare inspections, welfare investigations and welfare assessment of salmon farms in Scotland.
Please also specify the number of salmon farm visits attended by APHA from 1 May 2020 to 8 November 2022.
Please note that a FOI reply by APHA on 11 May 2020 detailed:
In particular, please provide information - including emails, letters, enforcement action, photos, videos, documents and any other details - relating to welfare complaints submitted by Scottish Salmon Watch and $camon $cotland in May 2021, July 2021, September 2021 and July 2022; namely:
Over and above the welfare complaints cited above, please provide information on any other welfare issues relating to salmon farms held by APHA since 1 April 2020.
Please consider this a formal FOI request under the relevant FOI and Environmental Information regulations.
Please provide a receipt for this FOI request.
Please provide the information requested electronically.
Thanks,
Don Staniford
Director, $camon $cotland
From: SM-APHA-Enquiries APHA <enquiries@apha.gov.uk> Date: Tue, Nov 8, 2022 at 3:05 PM Subject: Acknowledgement ATIC2927 To: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Ref: ATIC2927
Dear Don Staniford
Thank you for your request for information about salmon farm welfare inspections, which was received on 08 November 2022. Your request is being considered in respect to the access to information legislation.
As required by the legislation, APHA aim to answer your request within 20 working days from the date we received it. If for any reason APHA are unable to meet this deadline, you will be kept fully informed of the reasons for this.
In the meantime, if you have any queries, please contact the Access to Information Team at the email address below.
"Scottish salmon is an unexploded time-bomb. Toxic gases, mass mortalities, infectious diseases, lice infestations & rising community resistance across the Highlands & Islands will blow salmon farming in Scotland out of the water" https://t.co/ZuJ147UUgcpic.twitter.com/pDpQPSfnVh
Tip-off re. Bakkafrost off Portree: "Their feed barge sank end of last year...a few weeks ago divers [trying to raise it]...stopped as there was found to be very high levels of toxic gasses....this has lead to an exclusion zone....there is a 24hr guard" True? @ScottishEPApic.twitter.com/sus4ZLFyqh
A Freedom of Information reply from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (1 November 2022) lifts the lid on the sinking and salvage of a salmon feed barge spewing toxic gases off Portree on the Isle of Skye:
The Press & Journal: Don Staniford, of campaign group $camon $cotland, said the barge has lain on the seabed for months, raising the issue on his social media accounts. "Scottish salmon farming is a toxic industry," said Mr Staniford @pressjournalhttps://t.co/4vz3C9X1Ry
Boat still guards toxic fish farm for public safety. Both SEPA and Scottish Salmon knew about the sinking last year. They just “forgot” to inform the local community? A “need to know” secretive atmosphere. Locals swim and are taught sailing in these waters. Absolutely disgusting. pic.twitter.com/JMPUdc2eZE
If there is an exclusion zone in place around Bakkafrost's toxic salmon farming operation off the important harbour of Portee on the Isle of Skye it begs the question: is it safe for cruise ships to visit (as The World did last week)?
Breaking News: potentially lethal toxic gasses leaking from a sunken feed barge at Bakkafrost salmon farm off Portree suspend salvage operation with 24 hour guard & exclusion zone @briggsmarine Why has the public not been informed of the risks? @ScottishEPA@MairiMcAllan@H_S_Epic.twitter.com/avM09qC0Yp
Tip-off re. Bakkafrost off Portree: "Their feed barge sank end of last year...a few weeks ago divers [trying to raise it]...stopped as there was found to be very high levels of toxic gasses....this has lead to an exclusion zone....there is a 24hr guard" True? @ScottishEPApic.twitter.com/sus4ZLFyqh
From: The Highland Council<donotreply@highland.gov.uk> Date: Fri, Nov 4, 2022 at 9:54 AM Subject: Freedom of Information request FS-Case-463216942 has been submitted To: <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Your Freedom of Information request has been submitted.
Request summary
Subject of request: Sinking & Salvage of Portree Feed Barge Details of your request: Please consider this a formal request for information re. the sinking and salvage of the feed barge off Portree.
Please include emails, letters, documents, photos, videos and any other information since 1 November 2021.
Please see attached a FOI reply dated 1 November 2022 from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency which provides more context and more information (and names Highland Council as responsible for the salvage operation).
More details were reported in August 2022 via: P&J: "Exclusion zone set up around Skye barge giving off rotten eggs smell" "Experts tackle lethal gas leaking from sunken feed barge" (Fish Farming Expert) BBC News: "'Rotten egg' gas leaking from fish feed barge wreck - 500m exclusion zone placed near Portree on Skye" Toxic Gasses Spew From The Scottish Salmon Company (Bakkafrost Scotland) Off Portree
Please consider this a FOI request under the relevant FOI and Environmental Information regulations.
Please provide a receipt of this FOI request.
Please provide the information electronically.
Your reference is FS-Case-463216942. Please quote this if you need to contact us.
We aim to handle your case within 20 working days of the date we received your correspondence, which was 2022-11-04.
Yours sincerely,
Customer Resolution & Improvement Team
From: Don Staniford<salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> Date: Fri, Nov 4, 2022 at 7:49 AM Subject: FOI re. sinking & salvage of Portree feed barge To: Freedom of Information <foi@highland.gov.uk> Cc: D&I FOI <DI-FOI@highland.gov.uk>
Please consider this a formal request for information re. the sinking and salvage of the feed barge off Portree.
Please include emails, letters, documents, photos, videos and any other information since 1 November 2021.
Please see attached a FOI reply dated 1 November 2022 from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency which provides more context and more information (and names Highland Council as responsible for the salvage operation).
Please consider this a FOI request under the relevant FOI and Environmental Information regulations.
Please provide a receipt of this FOI request.
Please provide the information electronically.
Thanks,
Don Staniford
$camon $cotland
From: Don Staniford<salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> Date: Fri, Nov 4, 2022 at 7:42 AM Subject: Re: Portree Fish Feed Barge - FOI 4050 To: InformationAssurance <InformationAssurance@mcga.gov.uk> Cc: Gary Spark <Gary.Spark@mcga.gov.uk>, FOI <FOI@mcga.gov.uk>, HM Coastguard <HMCoastguard@mcga.gov.uk>, <Stan.Woznicki@mcga.gov.uk>
Please consider this a formal request for a review of $camon $cotland's FOI request dated 31 August 2022.
Suffice to say that no original documents, emails, letters and other information were disclosed. Only a summary was provided.
Please therefore provide a more detailed FOI reply - including source documents.
'Extreme Activists' are extremely inactive 99.9% of the time - sitting at a desk & staring at a screen all day is hardly exciting. Keyboard warriors of the world & computer geeks unite!
Please help support the filing of Freedom of Information requests and other really boring stuff online here
"Fish farming is a pestilence all over the globe," commented Chris Potter echoeing the sentiment of many people who have signed the petition.
Anne Mosness: "Cooke fish farms allowed hundreds of thousands of nonnative salmon to escape in one disastrous accident in Washington waters along with pollution & pathogens. Our wild species have been at risk for decades from Cooke"https://t.co/YpuUDoBdyK@CookeSeafood#Cookepic.twitter.com/obKq9tJ67m
“Economic development must not come at the long-term detriment of our community who have already welcomed more than our share of industrial fish farming. Further expansion will destroy our way of life and our deep sense of place & purpose” @CookeScotlandhttps://t.co/9z7B0iJDfVpic.twitter.com/gC2y51p7YZ
All over the world there is growing community resistance to Cooke Aquaculture:
Living Oceans & Global Salmon Farming Resistance allies published an open letter in Aussie 🇦🇺 newspapers, inc @themercurycomau, to Tasmanians & government warning them on Cooke Inc's public record of violations & disregard of regs in 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇱🇬🇧
Our fish farm campaigner @Alitarctica talking about the takeover of Tassal by Cooke Aquaculture. The #toxic Tasmanian salmon industry is only going to get worse, which seems unimaginable.https://t.co/VByUzbLCcH
Here's excerpts from the inspection report (2022-0110) which details eye damage, moribund fish with one fish "hanging vertically", lesions, infectious diseases and viruses reported at RSPCA Assured Cooke Aquaculture's Vee Taing salmon farm in Shetland during an inspection in April 2022:
A 'Fish Health Inspectorate Visit Report' dated 2 September 2022 - published by the Scottish Government on 25 October 2022 - detailed "varying degrees of eye damage and lesions to the flanks", "damaged tails and pectoral fins" and "erosion of the snouts" amongst 50 moribund and lethargic fish and positive tests for Piscine Myocarditis, Moritella vicosa, Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus and Vibrio as well as "pathology consistent with Cardiomyopathy syndrome", peritonitis and splenitis:
Living Oceans & Global Salmon Farming Resistance allies published an open letter in Aussie 🇦🇺 newspapers, inc @themercurycomau, to Tasmanians & government warning them on Cooke Inc's public record of violations & disregard of regs in 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇱🇬🇧
The battle goes on vs Cooke Aquaculture's 'organic' expansion off Orkney @RutterfordArt "I find it particularly distressing that the planning process has been handled in such an underhand way. There has been a duplicitous lack of transparency" #Appeal@OrkneyCouncil@amy_maypic.twitter.com/X0ckYOw1cw
Save Papay have slammed the planning process @OrkneyCouncil as “farcical” & for going against the community’s objections. Wendy Elves of Vestness described the newly approved farm as a “massive intrusion” on the “fragile environment” @pressjournalhttps://t.co/tz495IqFuo@scotgp
Cooke's expansion plans all over the world are meeting with growing resistance from communities and environmental groups. Living Oceans Tweeted (3 November 2022):
Living Oceans & Global Salmon Farming Resistance allies published an open letter in Aussie 🇦🇺 newspapers, inc @themercurycomau, to Tasmanians & government warning them on Cooke Inc's public record of violations & disregard of regs in 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇱🇬🇧
Cooke Inc. & their empire of subsidiaries have a long history of causing environmental damage & violating regulations from collapsed net pens, alien fish escapes, banned pesticide use, & seal shootings.
Save Papay sent a letter to Scotland's Environment Minister earlier this week (2 November 2022) calling for an immediate moratorium on fish farms in Scotland - just in case the letter got lost in the post artist Chris Rutterford hand-delivered an extra large envelope direct to the Scottish Government in Edinburgh.
The 10-page letter concluded:
"We now expect clear & decisive action to rein in the exploitation of communities by international fish farm operators riding rough-shod over inadequate regulatory watchdogs" wrote Save Papay in a letter to Scotland's Env Minister @MairiMcAllan@scotgovhttps://t.co/P4URR4ctTgpic.twitter.com/o99yl3PuJb
The Orcadian: "Papay campaigners appeal to environment minister" @The_Orcadian@MairiMcAllan The letter describes their effort as a "community-led demand for an immediate moratorium on all fish farm applications & ongoing developments in Scotland" https://t.co/3inu8xFguI#Cooke