They say it's fashionably late to arrive at a party after midnight but I've always been an early bird, ahead of my time. It seems I came to the closed containment party a decade too early. Here's me all dressed up as Captain Condom at a 'Superheroes 4 Salmon' protest in British Columbia in 2011.
A decade later it seems that closed containment is a concept whose time has come.
Artist Anissa Reed nailed it with these cartoons over a decade ago.
Just this week (29 April 2021), Fish Farming Expert reported that Mowi had fitted super-sized lice 'skirts' to their new 160 metre cages and were "tired and grumpy" after they "pulled it off".
Now that's a bloody big skirt Captain Condom would like to get up close and personal to.
Captain Condom was the Director of 'Superheroes 4 Salmon' during 2011 when I was quoted in The New York Times in relation to the spread of Infectious Salmon Anaemia from Norway to Chile via infected ova (eggs).
Captain Condom packed up his cape and rubber hat in 2012 when I relocated to the UK with my now wife (spawning two children in the process) and writing a report on STDs (Salmon Transmitted Diseases) called "Gill Diseases: Scottish Salmon's Dirty Big Secret".
Scottish Salmon Watch is also looking for other superheroes to help save wild salmon and protect the pristine waters around Scotland (these photos are from a Superheroes 4 Salmon protest in Canada in 2011).
If you're an Aquaman or Aquawoman and have diving skills like superhero David Ainsley we need your help!
Or if you're trained in espionage like Spiderman or Spidergirl and can bug secret meetings between Fergus Ewing and the Norwegian Salmafia then please contact Captain Condom via salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com (his official spokesman, Don Staniford, can also be contacted via dstaniford@gaaia.org).
Captain Condom and Superheros 4 Salmon's 'Justice League' are hopefully flying into Scotland from Canada (if restrictions and quarantine for Covid-19 permits)!
As a fellow Donald, I've always admired Donald Rumsfeld's philosophy if not his politics (as is the case with another Donald - and I'm not talkiing about a duck).
He was clearly wrong about Iraq's 'Weapons of Mass Destruction' but he was right to question the different facets of our knowledge.
Rumsfeld's reference to knowns and unknowns springs to mind when thinking about our current knowledge - or more appositely, our lack of knowledge - about salmon farming in Scotland. And, as it happens, Scottish salmon's very own weapon of mass destruction in the shape of the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid may have been lurking in a research laboratory at Ardtoe since 2013.
Soon the general public may be afforded the right to know a few more unknowns following a ruling by the Scottish Information Commissioner. By 7 June 2021, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has been ordered to disclose "commercially confidential" information on Benchmark's 'CleanTreat' water purification system which may or may not include damning information on the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (concealed by the trade name 'Ectosan' and now BMK08).
Yet here we are now just into May 2021 and SEPA has still not published data on the use of toxic chemicals at salmon farms in Scotland beyond September 2020. The latest information available to the public is via the 'Scotland's Aquaculture' database - just click on the CSV Export function and you can download an Excel spreadsheet detailing the use of Azamethiphos, Deltamethrin, Emamectin benzoate, Cypermethrin and Teflubenzuron since 2002.
In November 2020, Scottish Salmon Watch wrote to the Norwegian Government (one of the largest investors in 'Scottish' salmon farming via the Government Pension Fund) and cited examples of multiple chemical use at salmon farms across Scotland (sourced from data published by SEPA) - including:
A glimpse of the toxic nature of salmon farming can be found via Freedom of Information disclosures detailing chemical contamination of pharmed salmon. The Ferret (which manages to ferret out more unknowns than most newspapers) reported in August 2020:
This was not the first time The Scottish Salmon Company has been caught out overdosing on Emamectin benzoate in Loch Roag. The Daily Mail reported in March 2017:
Watch video footage shot by Scottish Salmon Watch during the same night as Seaspiracy visited:
Scottish Salmon Watch also cited 'unsatisfactory' benthic monitoring reports - evidence of waste pollution under salmon farms - in our letter to the Norwegian Government in November 2020 (sourced from data published via 'Scotland's Aquaculture).
SEPA has a mitigating excuse for failing to post data in a timely fashion as cyber-hackers stole 4,000 files on Xmas Eve - so if you're familiar with the far recesses of the Dark Web you may know more than the rest of us.
Thankfully, the public don't need to search the murkiest depths of the Dark Web to find more 'knowns' in terms of hard data on mortalities, diseases, lice infestation, escapes, seals killed and welfare abuse. Last month (23 March 2021), Compassion in World Farming and OneKind published damning video footage shot inside salmon farms between September and December 2020.
Norwegian-owned Mowi put SEPA to shame in terms of the timely reporting of data (although they don't volunteer information on the use of toxic chemicals). In fact, Mowi has already posted data on lice infestation and mortality for the week ending 11 April 2021 whilst SEPA has still not posted October 2020 data.
Censored: Salmon farmers in Scotland refuse to publish numbers of deaths as disclosure is "commercially damaging" https://t.co/FiaGuR3KoG Yet Norway published 2020 data detailing 52 million deaths - why the double standard when Norway owns 80% of 'Scottish' salmon? @ScottishEPApic.twitter.com/S6d45qnsTx
And thanks to various FOI disclosures - including shocking photos disclosed in March 2021 - the public can see the shocking nature of the legal and illegal killing of seals by salmon farms in Scotland.
Thanks to the power of Freedom of Information, here's some of the now knowns about the lethal nature of salmon farming. Here's some of the body bags of dead seals the industry wanted to bury from public view.
As the salmon industry agrees to publish data on disease & deaths, @markruskell warns an export ban is a step closer after regulators & industry were unable to address concerns over seal killings. https://t.co/1BN6t1QKgspic.twitter.com/G7scHXMq1k
You don't need to be an award-winning investigative journalist to discover - just by Googling 'West Sutherland Fisheries Trust' - that Loch Duart funds (along with another salmon farming company, Scottish Sea Farms) West Sutherland Fisheries Trust and is part of their governance structure via Loch Duart's former Managing Director Nick Joy (and I am sure there are other connections which make a mockery of the "independent audit" claim).
A quick look at Loch Duart's records filed with Companies House shows Nick Joy only resigned as a Director of Loch Duart in 2016.
So when Loch Duart claim that the West Sutherland Fisheries Trust is performing an "independent audit" they are talking, like Loch Duart's 'Sustainable' salmon claims, complete and utter bullshit.
Thanks to an annual fish farm production survey published every year by the Scottish Government we know many interesting facts about the 'Scottish' salmon farming industry. Did you know, for example, that just six companies (all foreign owned) account for 99% of salmon farming production in Scotland? Did you know that 90% of the ova (eggs) used to grow 'Scottish' salmon are imported from overseas (Norway, Iceland and Ireland)? Well now you know.
Record numbers of foreign salmon eggs are being imported by Scottish fish farms - @TheGAAIA in today’s Scottish Mail on Sunday: pic.twitter.com/wdACZSgpgh
And readers of The Ferret know more than most people.
As much as 99 per cent of farmed salmon production from Scottish-branded companies is controlled outwith Scotland. Most of the industry is Norwegian, and one major parent company is registered in Jersey, an offshore tax haven.https://t.co/vxzBIgSWYy
Here's the highly dangerous information on The Scottish Salmon Company and the five other foreign-owned companies who together control 99% of 'Scottish' salmon - posted online via 'Scottish Scamon'.
Tracking what's going on inside the murky world of salmon farming is a full-time job for "extreme activists" all over the world.
World Exclusive: What does it take to be labelled an "extreme activist"? I've been called many things - 'eco-terrorist', 'salmon farming nemesis', 'fish farm bogeyman', 'prophet of doom', 'salmon's No.1 enemy' & 'c**t' (I get that a lot). Here's the scoop!https://t.co/lNyg86xk9fpic.twitter.com/pr5hcUqsIU
Alexandra Morton's new book - "Not On My Watch" - is an eye-opener and packs into its 363 pages so many known knowns, unknown knowns and now knowns that Donald Rumsfeld would love it.
And even though there are still a raft of unknown unknowns lurking inside salmon farms, there is more than enough highly dangerous and toxic material out there for Booker prize-winning authors like Richard Flanagan to handle.
A £10,000 reward has been offered for information on the illegal shooting of seals after it emerged Police Scotland and the National Wildlife Crime Unit were passed intelligence reports about a number of killings.https://t.co/opzT3BtGvC
Like Rick Stein earlier this month, Belhaven Smokehouse have been forced to correct their web-site which was falsely marketing and deceptively advertising factory farmed salmon as 'wild'. Following a complaint filed yesterday (29 April) with East Lothian Trading Standards, Belhaven Smokehouse's web-site now publicly admits their smoked salmon "is farm reared in the wild and turbulent, coastal waters off Shetland & Orkney".
In the 24 hours since the Trading Standards complaint was filed, Belhaven Smokehouse deleted the following miseading messaging from their home web-page:
"Adhering to responsible sourcing, our quality salmon comes from the wild waters of Shetland"
"Is it Scottish? Almost three-quarters of salmon sold in the UK comes from Norway. Norwegian salmon is typically 10% to 15% cheaper than Scottish Salmon, however it takes longer for the fish to arrive in the UK so isn’t as fresh as our Scottish salmon. It also hasn’t been swimming in our wild Scottish waters which we think makes Scottish salmon firmer, fitter and better tasting".
"Belhaven Smokehouse and Ethico Holdings are clearly operating a consumer con and fraud," wrote Scottish Salmon Watch in a complaint filed with East Lothian Trading Standards at 9.25am yesterday (29 April 2021) morning. "Scottish Salmon Watch sincerely hopes that a quick phone call from Trading Standards can lead to Belhaven Smokehouse being honest and transparent about the provenance of their salmon products. For example, which sites and companies in Shetland is the salmon sourced from? Is the 'wild' salmon sourced from farms with disease, lice and virus problems? Has the 'wild' salmon supplier killed seals? Scottish Salmon Watch has presented further evidence on the significant differences between farmed and wild salmon and why consumers have a right to know if the salmon they buy is wild or farmed. The blog also details information from Companies House on the people involved with Ethico Holdings (owners of Belhaven Smokehouse) which include a Robert Trotter - not to be confused with Rodney Trotter and Del Boy Trotter of Trotter Independent Trading Co. Scottish Salmon Watch does not think that even Del Boy would pull a sham, scam and a consumer con as pulled here by Belhaven Smokehouse."
Here's the now corrected web-pages containing the wild claims:
The owners and investors in Belhaven Smokehouse must clearly be big fans of Del Boy from 'Only Fools & Horses'.
"Belhaven Smokehouse, just like Rick Stein, is guilty of hoodwinking consumers as to the provenance of salmon," said Don Staniford, Director of Scottish Salmon Watch in a statement issued yesterday morning (29 April 2021). "Marketing factory farmed salmon as 'swimming in wild waters' and 'from the wild waters of Shetland' is a sham, scam and a consumer con. Shetland has no wild salmon river runs and it is understood to be a criminal offence to catch wild salmon in Shetland. The public are being duped into thinking this is a wild salmon product when it is undoubtedly sourced from a factory salmon farm. Salmon farming in Shetland, as well as the rest of Scotland, is a disease-ridden welfare nightmare. No wonder Belhaven Smokehouse is reluctant to be honest with their online and farm shop customers."
"Thanks to East Lothian Trading Standards and Belhaven Smokehouse for now correcting their false marketing claims," added Staniford today (30 April 2021) following the corrections. "Scottish Salmon Watch received a tip off from an eagle-eyed supporter late on Tuesday and it's been a quick victory for consumers. The public have a right to know where their 'Scottish' salmon comes from and the ugly truth is that 100% of the 'Scottish' salmon you see in supermarkets and advertised online is sourced from factory farms where welfare abuse, infectious diseases and the use of toxic chemicals can run rampant. Please don't buy so-called 'Scottish' salmon which is actually 99% owned by six foreign companies and 90% of which is on-grown in tanks and cages via imported ova (eggs) from Norway, Iceland and Ireland. Don't fall for Scottish Scamon - please take the pledge not to buy farmed salmon."
I've not won an award in a while - even though award-winning food writer Joanna Blythman spookily suggested I deserved a medal in her Herald newspaper column on Saturday (24 April 2021) - so it was thrilling to receive a medal in the post yesterday from Captain Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society!
Writing in The Herald newspaper on Saturday (24 April 2021), food critic and author Joanna Blythman (no stranger herself to awards and prizes) displayed her inner Doris Stokes (for younger readers - she was a clairvoyant).
As it happens the medal was already in the post and will be worn proudly when I travel to Scotland next month for 'Operation Scottish Scamon'.
Here's a video showing the medal ceremony.
And one with the kids who were blatantly bribed with 'Star Wars'!
Sea Shepherd's 'Operation Virus Hunter' has lifted the lid on welfare abuse inside salmon farms in British Columbia.
Captain Paul Watson, along with other Sea Shepherd supporters such as Martin Sheen, Pamela Anderson and Rod Marining have taken the pledge not to eat farmed salmon. Please join the global boycott!
"Belhaven Smokehouse, just like Rick Stein, is guilty of hoodwinking consumers as to the provenance of salmon," said Don Staniford, Director of Scottish Salmon Watch. "Marketing factory farmed salmon as 'swimming in wild waters' and 'from the wild waters of Shetland' is a sham, scam and a consumer con. Shetland has no wild salmon river runs and it is understood to be a criminal offence to catch wild salmon in Shetland. The public are being duped into thinking this is a wild salmon product when it is undoubtedly sourced from a factory salmon farm. Salmon farming in Shetland, as well as the rest of Scotland, is a disease-ridden welfare nightmare. No wonder Belhaven Smokehouse is reluctant to be honest with their online and farm shop customers."
"Is it Scottish?" asks Belhaven Smokery's web-site. "Almost three-quarters of salmon sold in the UK comes from Norway. Norwegian salmon is typically 10% to 15% cheaper than Scottish Salmon, however it takes longer for the fish to arrive in the UK so isn’t as fresh as our Scottish salmon. It also hasn’t been swimming in our wild Scottish waters which we think makes Scottish salmon firmer, fitter and better tasting."
"Adhering to responsible sourcing, our quality salmon comes from the wild waters of Shetland," claims Belhaven Smokehouse.
From: Don Staniford<salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> Date: Thu, Apr 29, 2021 at 9:25 AM Subject: Complaint re. Belhaven Smokehouse's 'wild' claims about factory farmed salmon To: <tradingstandards@eastlothian.gov.uk>
Scottish Salmon Watch's complaint is a simple one - Belhaven Smokehouse's marketing and advertising is seriously misleading for consumers and is deceptive. The language refers, implies and alludes to the salmon products being sold as being wild not farmed (which is undoubtedly the case as it is understood to be illegal to catch wild salmon in Shetland and there are no wild salmon rivers on Shetland).
"Is it Scottish? Almost three-quarters of salmon sold in the UK comes from Norway. Norwegian salmon is typically 10% to 15% cheaper than Scottish Salmon, however it takes longer for the fish to arrive in the UK so isn’t as fresh as our Scottish salmon. It also hasn’t been swimming in our wild Scottish waters which we think makes Scottish salmon firmer, fitter and better tasting"
The repeated references to "wild waters of Shetland" and "swimming in our wild Scottish waters" is deliberately misleading and designed to conjure up an image of wild not farmed salmon.
Nowhere on Belhaven Smokehouse's web-site does it state that the product is the inferior factory farmed not wild salmon. Their web-page for customers to buy smoked salmon does not even notify the public that the products are all sourced from foreign-owned salmon farming companies: https://www.belhavensmokehouse.co.uk/smoked-salmon
It is understood that only three companies (Cooke Aquaculture, Grieg Seafood and Scottish Sea Farms) currently produce farmed salmon in Shetland and they're all owned by foreign multinationals in Norway and Canada.
The ova (eggs) used to farm 90% of 'Scottish' salmon is imported from Norway, Iceland and Ireland.
This is not a wild salmon product. It is not even truly Scottish.
The company behind Belhaven Smokehouse is Ethico Holdings who their web-page claims: "put people before profits and our moral principles and strict ethics underpin our business and govern everything we do".
However, Belhaven Smokehouse and Ethico Holdings are clearly operating a consumer con and fraud. Scottish Salmon Watch sincerely hopes that a quick phone call from Trading Standards can lead to Belhaven Smokehouse being honest and transparent about the provenance of their salmon products.
For example, which sites and companies in Shetland is the salmon sourced from? Is the 'wild' salmon sourced from farms with disease, lice and virus problems? Has the 'wild' salmon supplier killed seals?
The blog also details information from Companies House on the people involved with Ethico Holdings (owners of Belhaven Smokehouse) which include a Robert Trotter - not to be confused with Rodney Trotter and Del Boy Trotter of Trotter Independent Trading Co. Scottish Salmon Watch does not think that even Del Boy would pull a sham, scam and a consumer con as pulled here by Belhaven Smokehouse.
Scottish Salmon Watch hopes that Belhaven Smokehouse corrects their web-site as quickly as Rick Stein when he was contacted by Trading Standards in Cornwall following similarly misleading marketing and 'wild' claims:
According to data from Companies House, Ethico Holdings has a registered address in Holywood in Northern Ireland and the 'ulitimate beneficial owner' is Mr Kave Tristan Sigaroudinia.
But please do not get Robert Trotter confused with Del Boy Trotter or Rodney Trotter from 'Only Fools & Horses' and Trotters Independent Trading Company.
According to Companies House, the person with significant control at Ethico Holdings is Kave Tristan Sigaroudinia who is resident in Scotland but has a registered business address in Northern Ireland.
Ethico Holdings is an active company, according to Companies House, but since it was only incorporated in November 2020 it is not due to post accounts until August 2022.
Kave Sigaroudinia knows a thing or two about the uncertainties of investment. Reuters reported in 2016:
As Mr Sigaroudinia and other traders like Del Boy Trotter are fully aware, wild salmon and farmed salmon is not the same product. Just ask celebrity chef Rick Stein who was forced by Trading Standards in Cornwall to delete reference to wild rivers on his web-site marketing smoked salmon and admit that it was farmed salmon from the Faroe Islands.
Is Rick Stein misleading shoppers by advertising his salmon as smoked "on the edge of the Royal Forest of Dean between two of England's most celebrated salmon rivers" if it comes from farms in Ireland, Scotland, Faroes or Australia? @Rick_Stein@SevernWyehttps://t.co/LJd5ZpLPA4pic.twitter.com/4v9t7xJiz7
As Del Boy and consumers around the globe know full well, there is a world of difference between farmed and wild salmon. Don't take my word for it - please listen to ocean advocate Katie Tunn on why you should boycott farmed salmon.
Data published by the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation reveals shockingly high levels of mortality in salmon farms in Shetland with one in three farmed salmon dying at Grieg Seafood's North Voe salmon farm and double-digit mortality rates at at least a dozen salmon farms during 2020.
When consumers buy salmon from Belhaven Smokery is this the type of disease-ridden industry they really want to support?
In September 2019, Scottish Salmon Watch reported on welfare problems at Grieg Seafood's North Papa salmon farm in Shetland including physical damage is "attributed to a recent Optilicer treatment".
Watch Lizzie Daly's shocking video footage of seals killed by salmon farmers in Shetland.
What has happened since #SilentSlaughter? A step in the right direction as salmon farm in Shetland now invests in double netting. Pressure from YOU the public has helped make this happen. Can we make Shetland seal shooting free? PLEASE RT!! https://t.co/h3VPzmCkkSpic.twitter.com/ygnJZnvTkT
Photo: Overflowing blood water and "raw effluent" from Cooke's processing plant into Mid Yell Voe, Shetland (download high res image online here)
Six of Cooke's Shetland salmon farms featured amongst the sixty "liciest" salmon farms with Bastaness, Cloudin, Turness, Vee Taing, Wick of Belmont and Djubawick named and shamed in November 2017 by Salmon & Trout Conservation as breaching sea lice trigger levels between November 2016 and August 2017.
Lice infestation and infectious diseases have plagued salmon farmers in Shetland.
Record numbers of foreign salmon eggs are being imported by Scottish fish farms - @TheGAAIA in today’s Scottish Mail on Sunday: pic.twitter.com/wdACZSgpgh
Alexandra Morton had a victory of sorts in her trespassing court case against Marine Harvest (re-named Mowi in January 2019 due to "negative consumer perception"). The Toronto Star reported in August 2018:
Certainly in the court of public opinion, Alexandra Morton and First Nations opposed to salmon farms in British Columbia have won.
“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.
In Scotland, the legal battle may be only beginning but the PR war has already been won. Award-winning food writer Joanna Blythman lambasted 'Scottish' salmon in The Herald on Saturday (24 April 2021).
In November 2020, Viva exposed the shocking underbelly of salmon farming in Scotland.
In February this year, secret filming by Animal Equality inside a salmon farming processing plant operated by The Scottish Salmon Company lifted the lid on shocking welfare abuse.
Undercover video footage inside a salmon farm operated by Cooke Aquaculture in Maine, USA, in 2019 caused an international outcry.
And just this week Inside Scottish Salmon Feedlots released new video footage inside salmon farms in Scotland.
The video evidence of welfare abuse inside salmon farms is all too damning. And so too are the efforts by salmon farming companies to prevent "activists", scientists and journalists from filming close to salmon farms. When Alexandra Morton filmed at salmon farms in British Columbia she was shadowed and stalked by a security detail.
This is what happened when a local tried to ask a salmon farmer about the use of carcinogenic chemicals in Loch Tralaig.
Here's video footage of a salmon farmer using the carcinogenic chemical Formaldehyde (Formalin) in Loch Tralaig.
This is what happened when Scottish Salmon Watch took samples of waste effluents and filmed on a public beach at Landcatch's Ormsary salmon farm in Argyll in September 2020.
I had thought @policescotland job was to uphold the law? Not make new laws on the hoof. The Chief Constable of @policescotland needs to investigate, why it appears to be acting as private security, when the sea is a public common. https://t.co/kQtFW3p1iF
As a former cop, I would like to know what Act is 'criminal'? Watching the videos I see NO H&S issues, except the fish farm boat approaching the swimmer. What is this 'exclusion-zone' referred to? New one on me! Police failure to address two complaints or give advice interesting. https://t.co/Lxd8kLL3wo
Scottish Salmon Watch suffered the same type of police harrassment when we filmed in public waters in July 2019 at Scottish Sea Farms off Shuna in Loch Linnhe.
Police Scotland Acting as Private Security for Scottish Sea Farms? https://t.co/vwZMh0VZyw@policescotland@scotseafarms Instead of telling the public to stay out of public waterways, why doesn't the Police investigate salmon farms for breaches of welfare laws? @JohnFinnieHI
Victory: "Police Apologise to Fish Farm Welfare Campaigner" back online https://t.co/cNwnJSMYbH "The story was taken offline while we investigated a complaint" @obantimes "The investigation was completed late on Friday & the story went back online" @policescotland@scotseafarms
Back 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).
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/TRIgbdBz1qpic.twitter.com/PNZpWmva3f
It seems Mowi 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
That is a deliberate and very dangerous act. It's the most apalling seamanship and I'm contacting the MCA Office in Paisley directly about it. Somebody needs to lose their license over this and I'll do my best to ensure that happens. https://t.co/d7FccSdimN
"Unauthorised visits to fish farms place employees and the animals they care for at risk and subjects them to unnecessary stress... Fish farm employees should be able to work without fear of abuse or harassment." https://t.co/PVad8EsjIW
— Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (@SSPOsays) November 2, 2019
When Scottish Salmon Watch asked workers for disease details of the dead salmon at Quarry Point they ignored the question and turned their back on the welfare of their stock.
Next month, Scottish Salmon Watch launches 'Operation Scottish Scamon' which aims to shine a light on the sham, scam and consumer con that is 'Scottish' salmon.
Today (29 April 2021), Scottish Salmon Watch wrote to Police Scotland reiterating our safety concerns - as expressed in a letter sent in October 2020 - surrounding secret filming in and around salmon farming operations. Hopefully there will not be an escalation of conflicts and there will not be a repeat of assaults. Scottish Salmon Watch's letter to Police Scotland dated 23 October 2020 included:
Salmon warriors in Canada may have lost a few legal battles but they've certainly won the PR war and salmon farms are being removed from the pristine waters of British Columbia.
"I do not think I should be judged for this, but it was my journalistic obligation that the public must be aware of the seriousness of the situation. The right calls this “PR stunt” which I think is very remarkable. If the law says that you can not look after ourselves, we depend on the company to provide correct information. Now that we know how it looks, we know that their information is not correct."
If Government agencies are not upholding welfare laws and environmental rules then it is not surprising that "extreme activists", journalists, biologists, First Nations leaders, celebrities and citizens are prepared to risk breaking the law in order to tell the public the truth about such a toxic industry.
And it seems that salmon farms in Scotland are still desperately warning - without any legal basis - the public to stay away from their disease-ridden feedlots.
When are the security cameras, patrol boats, radar, trip-wires and water canons being fitted to salmon farms in Scotland? https://t.co/IvQ3Ka1p7v
Thank you for that safety advice. Are you saying categorically that you have a legal non-navigable exclusion zone around your cages? If so, please would you let me know the dimensions and where it is enshrined in maritime law. Thank you.
You're welcome. It's not everyone that understands the potential hazards that exist on and under the water at our working farms. With buoys being maritime shorthand to steer clear of an area, #KeepOutsideTheBuoys seemed the most helpful advice to give: https://t.co/mdsmxWyXpA
If you're sceptical of the welfare 'inspection' regime in Scotland and want to join 'Operation Scottish Scamon' please email me via salmonfarmingkills.com
As the country opens up, why not experience the true nature of farmed salmon in Scotland!
SALMON SAFARI !
Witness caged salmon swim in their own excrement, being stuffed with highly-processed food and slowly being eaten alive by lice, infectious diseases & toxic chemicals! 🐟☠️ pic.twitter.com/QCHNY38nwV
From: Don Staniford<salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> Date: Wed, Apr 28, 2021 at 1:39 PM Subject: Re: Complaint about the Police [OFFICIAL] To: Stephen, Mark-2 <Mark.Stephen2@scotland.pnn.police.uk>
Inspector Stephen,
It's been over six months since Scottish Salmon Watch wrote to Police Scotland on the issue of increasing violence and hostility by salmon farmers blocking film but there has been no reply.
Do you think Police Scotland can address this issue?
During the coming months, Scottish Salmon Watch will be in the field conducting sampling near salmon farms - together with secret filming - and reiterate our safety and security concerns.
I am still available to meet next week to discuss the current situation.
"Scottish Salmon Watch will certainly not be staying 15 metres away from salmon farms and believe there is no legal basis for such claims. We therefore ask Police Scotland to chair a roundtable discussion to discuss the issue of filming and sampling at salmon farms...... Scottish Salmon Watch is concerned that the industry's provocative position is fanning the flames of anger and violence. Unless the incendiary situation is dampened down someone is going to get seriously injured or killed."
Thanks,
Don Staniford
Director, Scottish Salmon Watch
From: Don Staniford<salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> Date: Fri, Oct 23, 2020 at 11:53 AM Subject: Re: Complaint about the Police [OFFICIAL] To: Stephen, Mark-2 <Mark.Stephen2@scotland.pnn.police.uk>
Mark,
Please pass Scottish Salmon Watch's letter onto the Area Chief Inspector:
January and February are traditionally very quiet months for mortality on salmon farms (the lull after the Xmas frenzy and lower water temperatures meaning less disease). But some salmon farms have harvested out during February 2021 (the latest data currently available via the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation) revealing shocking levels of mortality at The Scottish Salmon Company's Plocrapool salmon farm (56.% cumulative mortality - that means more than half the farmed salmon died during the sea cage phase of production) and at Mowi's Torridon salmon farm (26.4% cumulative mortality - that means one in every four farmed salmon died during the sea cage phase of production).
If you look at the stats from @ScottishEPA (who still have not published data after Sept 2020) mortalities in the second six months of the year account for ca. 70% of morts (October is the worst month for morts closely followed by September and November)https://t.co/ZIBqEI3owCpic.twitter.com/eZbEosrtjN
Photos and 'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate in March 2021 (detailing an inspection in November 2020) reported Heart & Skeletal Muscle Inflammation, Cardiomyopathy Syndrome and Pancreas Disease with "numerous moribunds" which were "displaying lesions, physical damage and were hanging around at the surface" at The Scottish Salmon Company's Plocrapool salmon farm.
According to the data published by the Fish Health Inspectorate on 4 March 2021 (up to the end of January 2021), Scottish Sea Farms are responsible for over half (54%) of the missing reports with The Scottish Salmon Company also failing to provide mortality numbers in over 100 cases.
Censored: Salmon farmers in Scotland refuse to publish numbers of deaths as disclosure is "commercially damaging" https://t.co/FiaGuR3KoG Yet Norway published 2020 data detailing 52 million deaths - why the double standard when Norway owns 80% of 'Scottish' salmon? @ScottishEPApic.twitter.com/S6d45qnsTx
As the country opens up, why not experience the true nature of farmed salmon in Scotland!
SALMON SAFARI !
Witness caged salmon swim in their own excrement, being stuffed with highly-processed food and slowly being eaten alive by lice, infectious diseases & toxic chemicals! 🐟☠️ pic.twitter.com/QCHNY38nwV
Book your salmon 'safari' now! "Witness caged salmon swim in their own excrement, being stuffed with highly-processed food and slowly being eaten alive by lice, infectious diseases & toxic chemicals!"
Salmon farmers, however, caution against getting too close to their disease-ridden operations.
You're welcome. It's not everyone that understands the potential hazards that exist on and under the water at our working farms. With buoys being maritime shorthand to steer clear of an area, #KeepOutsideTheBuoys seemed the most helpful advice to give: https://t.co/mdsmxWyXpA
Germans used to go to Buchenwald and other concentration camps to watch the inmates for entertainment. Probably where he got the idea. wonder what @VisitScotland 's take on it will be ? https://t.co/BvT8eBwwFJ
"Anyone visiting the four museums when they reopen will notice that farmed salmon has been banished entirely from its cafes and restaurants" @Tatehttps://t.co/bVjSq41j8M@MSNBC@CookingSections Please join the global boycott against farmed salmon!
A £10,000 reward has been offered for information on the illegal shooting of seals after it emerged Police Scotland and the National Wildlife Crime Unit were passed intelligence reports about a number of killings.https://t.co/opzT3BtGvC
Download press release in full as a PDF online here
Email just in from an industry whistleblower: "A long-standing Mowi manager once shot a seal on Lewis with a shotgun & laughed as the poor creature writhed around screaming as it died slowly & painfully with a shotgun wound to the side of the head" @ScotlandMowi@rspcaassuredpic.twitter.com/1gsKU8l1eP
Scottish Salmon Watch today (26 April 2021), filed another FOI request with Police Scotland and the Scottish Government (Marine Scotland) for further information which hopefully shed light on an apparent disconnect.
From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> Date: Mon, Apr 26, 2021 at 12:38 PM Subject: FOI on Intelligence Reports "passed to Police Scotland" (& NWCU) re. seals killed in Scotland To: CEU@gov.scot; foi@scotland.pnn.police.uk
Please provide information on any Marine Scotland Intelligence Reports passed to Police Scotland and the National Wildlife Crime Unit in relation to seals killed in Scotland since 1 January 2018.
As context, there appears to be a disconnect between information disclosed via a FOI reply provided on 1 April 2021 by the Scottish Government; namely:
"The new figures on police investigations emerged after campaign group Scottish Salmon Watch (SSW) submitted a freedom of information (FoI) request to the Scottish Government asking for information on the illegal killing of seals. SSW also asked for information on breaches of seal licences by salmon farmers since 1 January 2018. The Scottish Government’s reply revealed its fisheries agency Marine Scotland passed intelligence reports on seal killings to Police Scotland and the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) six times. NWCU supports police forces across the UK. From codes provided by the Scottish Government in its reply, SSW said incidents investigated included four seals killed in Basta Voe in August 2018. Police Scotland told The Ferret it had been made aware of fines given but that no further police action was required. Police Scotland said it had also been informed about two dead seals recovered from Crosskirk Bay, Thurso on 13 May, 2019 and that “relevant advice was given to the agency who contacted police”.
"We’ve contacted a number of officers in relation to the enquiry you forwarded us yesterday. For your guidance, here is our information on the incidents you refer to:
Basta Voe, August 2018 – Police were made aware of the fines given and no further police action was required.
Kylesku Bridge, September 2018 – not reported to Police Scotland
Wick of Belmont, April 2019 – not reported to Police Scotland. However, we were made aware of two dead seals recovered from Crosskirk Bay, Thurso on 13 May, 2019 and the relevant advice was given to the agency who contacted police.
Uig Bay, September, 2019 – not reported to Police Scotland.
Loch Ewe, January, 2020 – not reported to Police Scotland."
I Tweeted earlier today on the differences in the Scottish Government's disclosure via FOI and the information supplied by Police Scotland (presumably via their press office) to the Ferret.
You can obviously reply directly to this Tweet but this FOI effectively asks for further clarity to explain the apparent contradiction in the information supplied by the Scottish Government compared to the information supplied by Police Scotland.
To be clear, please provide copies of the Marine Scotland Intelligence Reports 'passed' by the Scottish Government to Police Scotland and the National Wildlife Crime Unit.
Please also provide any information - including any emails - which may assist in explaining the differences in the information provided by the Scottish Government and Police Scotland.
Please include any emails and correspondence with the Ferret in relation to seals killed by salmon farms in Scotland since 1 February 2021.
Please also provide any information discussing the FOI request and reply via FOI- 2021-00155371.
Please also provide any information discussing any reaction to this morning's Ferret article and Scottish Salmon Watch press release.
Download FOI review to Police Scotland dated 5 April 2021 online here
Appendix:
From: <casehandling.service@gov.scot> Date: Thu, Apr 1, 2021 at 5:33 PM Subject: Your recent correspondence with Scottish Government and partner agencies - 202100155371 To: <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Please find attached a response to your correspondence.
From: Don Staniford<salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> Date: Thu, Feb 11, 2021 at 8:02 PM Subject: FOI re. illegal killing of seals & breaches of Seal Licences by salmon farms since 1 January 2018 To: <ceu@scotland.gsi.gov.uk>
Please provide information on the illegal killing of seals and breaches of Seal Licences by salmon farmers since 1 January 2018.
Please note that FOI-2020-00118346 replied to by the Scottish Government on 1 February 2021 disclosed some information but refused other information stating:
This new FOI request requests the "Wildlife Crime intelligence held by the Scottish Government" since 1st January 2018 in relation to seals killed by salmon farms. Scottish Salmon Watch has also filed a FOI request with Police Scotland.
In particular, please include any information relating to seals killed by Grieg Seafood in Loch Dunvegan. A Tweet on 8 February 2021 (replying to a Tweet on 18 January 2021) included a photo of a harbour seal with a bullet wound to the head on the shore of Loch Dunvegan:
Please also provide the report to Police Scotland's Wildlife Crime Unit cited in the following email disclosed via FOI-2020-00118346 on 1 February 2021:
It appears that there may be missing documentation pertaining to this case - either refused or omitted via FOI-2020-00118346.
In any case, this FOI requests information on this case (and any others) up to today's date and may therefore include a reply from Scottish Sea Farms.
Please also include information on "seal licence misdemeanours" even if they were not actioned and resulted only in a verbal warning. Note that the Scottish Government's FOI disclosure on 1 February 2021 (FOI-2020-00118346) included:
In conclusion, please provide information on the illegal killing of seals and breaches of Seal Licences by salmon farmers since 1 January 2018.
If the Scottish Government refuses to provide specific information, please provide generic data on the number of cases reported to Police Scotland's Wildlife Crime Unit and the number of seal licence breaches and "misdemeanours" by salmon farming companies.
Please consider this a FOI request under the relevant FOI and Environmental Information regulations.
Please provide a receipt.
Please provide the information electronically.
Thanks,
Don Staniford
Director, Scottish Salmon Watch
From: <casehandling.service@gov.scot> Date: Tue, Mar 23, 2021 at 8:14 PM Subject: Your recent correspondence with Scottish Government and partner agencies - 202100154178 To: <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Please find attached a response to your correspondence.
Please take the pledge not to eat farmed salmon - even Scottish salmon marketed as 'organic', certified as 'environmentally friendly' by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council or as 'welfare friendly' via RSPCA Assured!
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
Today's Sunday Times: "Land-based farming means that fish excrement and lethal chemicals are not discharged into the marine environment to the serious detriment of coastal ecosystems and fragile marine habitats" @SundayTimesScot@SalmonTroutConshttps://t.co/uvhH2H07XN@scotgp
#BoycottFarmedSalmon This is is what happens when our government aids and abets the get-rich-quick mentality of global aquaculture, at the expense of wild salmon, a precious marine resource it has failed to protect https://t.co/D1VveDV3Ez
The award-winning food writer has given the industry a good grilling and served up the truth about disease-ridden Scottish salmon for decades.
Drop in a mention of a traditional smokehouse in a pretty place using artisanal techniques? Kerching! That old “king of fish”, licence-to-print-money machine is cranked into life again. https://t.co/D1VveDV3Ez
After 48,834 'deformed' (and potentially chemically-contaminated) farmed salmon escaped from Mowi's salmon farm in the Kilbrannan Sound in August 2020, Euan Mcgrandle pressed the Scottish Government for an answer on the politically toxic issue of chemicals and deformities in escaped 'Scottish' salmon. Yesterday (22 April 2021), the Scottish Government's Directorate for Marine Scotland gave a reply (of sorts):
Euran Mcgrandle, a scientist as well as an avid fisherman, is not happy with the Scottish Government's reply:
From: Euan Mcgrandle Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2021, 09:31 Subject: Re: FW: Your recent correspondence with Scottish Government and partner agencies - 202100185490 To: Ferretti P (Paul) <Paul.Ferretti@parliament.scot>
Thank you for your email Paul,
In true political fashion, the response fails to answer any of the original questions, namely:
1. What is the withdrawal period, and most importantly can you provide definitive proof that salmon harvested from Carradale did in fact adhere to this?
2. Since no salmon was caught by anglers till after the remaining salmon in the cages were harvested, did this advice relate to the Carradale mass escape, or are other escapes happening and not being notified?
If the above questions could be answered rather than the generic placitude sent it would be appreciated.
Regards
Euan
"As a member of the Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association, I am well aware of the escapes of farmed salmon mainly from MOWI's Carradale operation, but others too - and the advice given from FMS (Fisheries Management Scotland) which at the time was that any angler catching a farm escapee should under no circumstances eat it as they were unfit for human consumption (even though these were all about to be harvested if they hadn't escaped - go figure that one out!)," wrote Euan McGrandle in an email to a Member of the Scottish Parliament on 13 April 2021. "I saw in a committee update on 28th February that the advice from FMS to our committee was that these fish were still unsafe to eat (after swimming in the pristine water of the N Atlantic for 6 months) which I thought was strange so contacted first my MP (Stuart McDonald), and after getting no response contacted my MSP (Rona McKay). After reminder emails, I did get a reply from Stuart two weeks ago that he would ask the question but since then nothing."
"Now, either they know and don't want to say, or are afraid to ask the question, but as much as I am against the SNP's blinkered desire for independence at all costs (to include the environmental desolation of the west coast) in addition, clearly there are doubts over the safety of farmed salmon going into the food chain. It is now 6 weeks since I asked my initial question (email below) and for something that independent scientists are claiming to be unsafe to eat, I would have thought it would have taken a bit more focus from our elected leaders than appears to be the case. Now I know SNP will suport salmon farming at all costs, especially as they seem to ignore anything which they find inconvenient, however the FMS report is very clear that the advice is that if an angler catches a farm salmon escapee, under no circumstances are they safe to eat. If this is the case - how safe are those sold in Tesco, Asda, Lidl etc."
In an email to Stuart McDonald MP (stuart.mcdonald.mp@parliament.uk) and Rona Mackay MSP (Rona.Mackay.msp@parliament.scot) in March 2021, Euan McGrandle wrote:
"I refer specifically to the instructions issued in relation to an angler who catches an escaped farmed salmon where the advice given by FMS immediately after the MOWI escape of nearly 50,000 salmon from their Carradale site and the subsequent invasion of rivers by these fish. The advice in “guidance for the capture of escaped farmed fish” states clearly that “Due to the need to maintain a withdrawal period following any sea lice or medicinal treatments of the farmed fish, on no account should the fish be kept or consumed.”
Whilst I understand the rationale of this concern over the safety or otherwise of these fish, FMS states also in their report “Monitoring for the presence of farmed salmon in West Coast Scottish rivers following an escape from the Carradale North salmon farm” that at the time of the escape the fish were due to be imminently harvested. This then opens the question, were these fish which did not escape and were ultimately harvested shortly afterwards fit for consumption?
I cannot see documented anywhere what timeframe this withdrawal period is and more importantly ar salmon farms adhering to it?
The blog report from 28th Feb which I referred to above states on two separate occasions that the advice from FMS is that any angler catching an escaped salmon should not eat it as the advice from FMS is still the same and these are unfit for human consumption. Now I cannot find a specific reference to what FMS have told the LLAIA privately, and there is nothing listed on either website to clarify, but if over six months of swimming in the North Atlantic is not sufficient time for withdrawal of the various treatments then are any farmed salmon sold from Scottish waters actually fit for consumption?"
Today (23 April 2021), Scottish Salmon Watch filed a Freedom of Information request asking the Scottish Government and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to provide details of any toxic chemicals used by Mowi at their salmon farms in Kilbrannan Sound in the 12 months prior to the mass escape in August 2020.
What toxic chemicals were used at Mowi's Carradale salmon farm before the mass escape of 49,000 fish in August 2020? https://t.co/0samd5HLqL Emamectin benzoate was reported as used in September 2019 - was Azamethiphos, Deltamethrin or Imidacloprid used via wellboats? @ScottishEPApic.twitter.com/yL1ofkaoFJ
During "streamlining" will you please publish data on the use of Azamethiphos, Deltamethrin, Hydrogen Peroxide & Imidacloprid via wellboats? Data for use on salmon farms is published up to July 2020 but wellboat data is still not available for 2019! https://t.co/ylOo17mBulpic.twitter.com/Pfq9fGygWd
If Mowi's farmed salmon were contaminated with toxic chemicals - be it Emamectin benzoate, Azamethiphos, Deltamethrin or pesticide residues - it certainly would not be the first time. The Ferret reported in August 2020:
Anglers in the affected areas of Scotland and north-west England should be aware of @FMS_Scotland advice, to help them recognise (and kill!) farmed salmon: https://t.co/Ybk2fbENG7
Here are a few pics/examples of the escapee we filmed, caught on the River Leven… pic.twitter.com/wGSDvPwML0
We’ve had reports of fish turning up in English north west rivers and as such the @EnvAgency and @ATFreshwater have issued our guidance and reporting system to anglers south of the border https://t.co/3NU3RPMhAm
— Fisheries Management Scotland (@fms_scotland) October 6, 2020
Mass escapes from salmon farms in Scotland are now more than 4 million since the late 1990s. The Global Alliance Against Industrial Aquaculture reported in 2014:
A scientific paper published in 2008 reported that: "The developmental and evolutionary forces in the aquaculture or "domestic" niche are so unlike those in the wild niche that two distinct biologies are being created from the original Atlantic salmon species. We may now need to recognize a new biological entity - Salmo domesticus - and treat it as an "exotic" when it escapes into the wild":
The Royal Society reported in 2003 that "interaction of farm with wild salmon results in lowered fitness, with repeated escapes causing cumulative fitness depression and potentially an extinction vortex in vulnerable populations":
If salmon farmers claim that their fish are reared “responsibly” and @RSPCA_official say their welfare is “assured”, and that their diet is healthy, how come they never look as healthy as a wild one? pic.twitter.com/FCI1zrkbKr
"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," said Dr Francisco Sánchez-Bayo of the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at The University of Sydney in June 2020. "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?"
Jean-Marc Bonmatin, from the French National Centre for Scientific Research, was quoted @SundayTimesScot warning "the use of Imidacloprid as it is presented for salmon farming will be catastrophic for aquatic invertebrates, and even for fishes" @undercurhttps://t.co/1KJ21gpTn6
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
Mark Ruskell MSP: "There is a startling lack of transparency, with @FergusEwingMSP always ready to approve the next sticking plaster approach to the chronic animal health and welfare issues caused by the industry" https://t.co/6u7ZifHNFo@markruskell@scotgp@ScottishEPA
Scottish Salmon Watch has asked the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage (Nature Scotland), the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, the Scottish Government and even Benchmark for copies of any environmental risk assessments regarding the use of Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan) use in salmon farming but have been denied at every turn.
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@FOIScotlandpic.twitter.com/ii4K4i0al5
Last week (17 April 2021), Scottish Salmon Watch filed another FOI request with SEPA, the Scottish Government and Veterinary Medicines Directorate for information on BMK08/Ectosan (Imidacloprid).
Far from being active, most of my time is spent sat down on a chair in front of a computer screen trawling through data on mass mortalities and infectious diseases published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate. Granted, data-crunching can get extreme.......extremely boring.
Extreme Activism #1 (in an occasional series @tavishscott): After dressing the kids, dropping Dad off at the dentist, walking the dog & washing up I clicked onto a Government website to check for infectious diseases killing Scottish salmon @marinescotlandhttps://t.co/r6jks42ZdA
World Exclusive: What does it take to be labelled an "extreme activist"? I've been called many things - 'eco-terrorist', 'salmon farming nemesis', 'fish farm bogeyman', 'prophet of doom', 'salmon's No.1 enemy' & 'c**t' (I get that a lot). Here's the scoop!https://t.co/lNyg86xk9fpic.twitter.com/pr5hcUqsIU
"Vow to Wage Global Campaign Against Fish Farms" screams the headline @themercurycomau Join the global boycott - don't buy the big lies from salmon pharma, buy 'Toxic: The Rotting Underbelly of the Tasmanian Salmon Industry'https://t.co/WlBHM9flOl Scottish edition coming soon! pic.twitter.com/DCIGzdDnKv
Booker prize-winning author Richard Flanagan has taken a swipe at Tasmania's salmon industry, describing it as "one big lie" https://t.co/iXTP9qJZCF The Scottish edition is out later this year! @tavishscott
Watch a video clip of Richard Flanagan lambasting salmon farming on ABC News online here
Booker-prize winning author Richard Flanagan: "I thought I would write something about this, just a short article, and then I started talking to scientists, to people in other communities and I discovered one story of horror after another, after another" https://t.co/iXTP9qJZCF
In what a cynic would view as blatant bribery, the Norwegian-owned 'Scottish' salmon farming lobby is attempting to buy the support of wild fisheries interests. Foundation Scotland reports on their web-site:
Read more details from Foundation Scotland online here
"If it's less than 5k, Mowi can handle it" says @MowiScotlandLtd Director of Comms offering to buy off Ness District Salmon Fishery Board for £3,800 plus VAT. "Just request a Mowi logo on the side in the shape of a red hot flame (kidding)". "Looks schnazzy" says Ian Roberts pic.twitter.com/H2JxBxYYtB
Scottish salmon is an iconic global brand. Our fish sell at a premium in the top restaurants of New York and the sushi bars of Asia. We are the UK’s number one food export.
Our new Sustainability Charter establishes principles and actions. It sets out what our member companies and the salmon supply chain will do to meet the net zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2045. Sustainability must underpin everything we do. The way we care about our fish and protect their local environment. Sourcing responsibly. Developing our people. Listening to our communities.
Scotland is uniquely placed to be in the vanguard of the blue revolution. As the Scottish, UK and global economies emerge from the shadow of Covid-19 there’s a significant opportunity to grow the production of Scottish salmon in a sustainable way; to create much-needed new jobs; and to share the financial benefits of growth with the rural and island communities where we work.
The role of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation is to create the conditions for the long-term sustainable growth of the Scottish Salmon sector. It is to maintain its position as Scotland and the UK's leading food product by representing the interests of our member companies and working to promote “Scottish Salmon” the brand.
The role
We wish to employ a proven communications professional to promote the salmon farming sector’s interests across the media and with key stakeholders.
The successful candidate will report to the SSPO CEO and lead a small team of communications professionals to build proactive multi-media campaigns with associated advertising, delivering effective, targeted and consistent digital media output, managing reactive communications and co-ordinate responsive media activity from local, national and international news and media outlets.
Key Responsibilities
Develop and effectively manage the SSPO’s communications strategy.
Maximise the SSPO and Scottish salmon sector’s reputation and brand positioning externally.
Competently develop and control reactive communications relating to the sector.
Lead the development and implementation of the SSPO’s approach to external and internal sector communications, engaging with staff in the development of the approach.
Support the development of a stakeholder engagement strategy and support the Director of Strategic Engagement in its implementation.
Proactively lead public relations, communications, marketing and media support activities to ensure high quality coverage which accurately reflects the SSPO’s strategic messages, values and identity.
Oversee the SSPO’s social media channels, develop creative digital content and liaise with stakeholders across member companies, government, public agencies, ENGOs and trade bodies.
Act as an external spokesperson for the SSPO, deputising for the CEO or Director of Strategic Engagement as appropriate.
Provide professional advice and collaborative leadership to the SSPO’s member communications teams on all sector-wide communications and marketing matters.
Ensure SSPO communications priorities are aligned to those of key stakeholders.
Represent the SSPO in engaging and liaising with members, media organisations, external partners and agencies including Scotland Food and Drink Partnership and the International Salmon Farmers Association.
Prepare papers, briefs and submissions on key communication issues for the SSPO Management team and Board of Directors.
Willingness to work flexibly, including attendance at evening events/meetings both internal and external to the SSPO.
Travel in UK and abroad.
Required Knowledge / Experience
Essential
A degree or equivalent in media studies, journalism, public relations, public policy, politics, media design or a related subject.
Skilled in the use of digital and social media.
Experience of dealing with the media.
A thorough working knowledge of communications management, media and social media.
Knowledge of the Scottish, UK political, business and media landscape.
Experience of reactive communications handling and stakeholder management
Confident in representing a high-profile organisation and sector across all media platforms.
Experience of media relations at local, regional and national level.
Excellent communications skills – clear speaking and writing style with a track record of networking and relationship building.
A proven ability to develop and deliver communications and advocacy strategies quickly and accurately.
Desirable
Knowledge and experience in dealing with international media would be a distinct advantage.
Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations
Flexibility in your approach and willing to take on other work as the sector and external agenda evolves.
A knowledge of the food and drink sector would be an advantage.
An inquisitive approach to ensure the organisation’s approach to media issues is robust.
Experience of leading and co-ordinating multi-disciplinary professionals.
Website management a desirable skillset
The Person
You will …..
Have a strong work ethic, be keen to succeed, and be comfortable talking and communicating within and beyond the team.
Be self-motivated, flexible and adaptable with positive approach to managing change.
Be a strategic and creative thinker with a positive attitude.
Be comfortable representing the SSPO at external meetings with stakeholders.
Be highly organised with a methodical approach to work.
Be able to work independently and proactively.
Demonstrate great problem-solving skills.
Have strong communications skills, both written and verbal.
Display emotional intelligence – calm in the face of adversity and able to work in a fast-paced environment with high drive and energy levels.
Be a real team player.
If you love daunting challenges, like putting out fires, are comfortable telling a pack of lies & like being paid lots of £££££s to be a mouthpiece for the Norwegian Salmafia in Scotland then the new job as Head of Communications at Scottish Salmon is for you! @SSPOsayspic.twitter.com/lZv9FBOTEW
Scottish Salmon's 'Head of Communications' will: "Oversee the SSPO’s social media channels, develop creative digital content & liaise with stakeholders across member companies, government, public agencies, ENGOs & trade bodies" https://t.co/HH5wtjJWg2@SSPOsays@HamishMacdonellpic.twitter.com/yrX1DpNxA3
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
"Extreme activists" need extremely supportive family & friends - if you want to support extreme activism which may involve working at a computer, filing FOI requests & undercover filming please donate now! https://t.co/g6azvbBrZTpic.twitter.com/owBGxqbzP4
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@FOIScotlandpic.twitter.com/ii4K4i0al5
Mark Ruskell MSP: "There is a startling lack of transparency, with @FergusEwingMSP always ready to approve the next sticking plaster approach to the chronic animal health and welfare issues caused by the industry" https://t.co/6u7ZifHNFo@markruskell@scotgp@ScottishEPA
Bald statement that all of this poison will be removed from the discharge water. Given the huge amount of human error in this industry how can we trust that, even if it’s scientifically possible.
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":
Scottish Salmon Watch has asked the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage (Nature Scotland), the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, the Scottish Government and even Benchmark for copies of any environmental risk assessments regarding the use of Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan) use in salmon farming but have been denied at every turn.
The question seems to be not if but when the 'green' Scottish Government raise a glass to Imidacloprid-marinaded Scottish salmon and drink to the success of Benchmark's "environmentally friendly" water purification system CleanTreat.
From: Don Staniford<salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> Date: Sat, Apr 17, 2021 at 7:45 AM Subject: FOI re. Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan), CleanTreat & Benchmark since 8 June 2020 To: AccesstoInformation <foi@sepa.org.uk> Cc: Pollard, Peter <peter.pollard@sepa.org.uk>, Ahearn, Terry <terry.ahearn@sepa.org.uk>, Media <publicrelations@sepa.org.uk>, Mackinnon, Alison <Alison.Mackinnon@sepa.org.uk>, Sinclair, Douglas <douglas.sinclair@sepa.org.uk>
Please provide any information on Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan), CleanTreat and Benchmark since 8 June 2020.
Please include emails, reports, risk assessments, modelling results, surveys, photos, letters, Excel data and any other information in relation to Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan), CleanTreat & Benchmark.
Please detail any meetings and online phone calls (e.g. Zoom) with Benchmark, SSPO, salmon farming companies, Scottish Government officials, SNH or any other parties in relation to Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan), CleanTreat & Benchmark.
Scottish Salmon Watch was alarmed to read in the trade press yesterday that Benchmark have appointed an environmental modeller (Meghan Rochford) - formerly employed by Grieg Seafood, The Scottish Salmon Company and Marine Harvest/Mowi - to gear up for the use of Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan) in salmon farming in Scotland.
SEPA stated in an email from Peter Pollard dated 26 June 2020:
"SEPA is not planning to commission and publish a scientific dossier on the environmental impacts of imidacloprid..... In the case of imidacloprid, there are currently no established coastal water environmental standards to review. There are also no authorised discharges into coastal waters. Before we would consider authorising any discharges of imidacloprid, we would require the applicant to provide the necessary data to identify a suitable environmental standard in the form of a predicted no effect concentration. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the scientific information for this purpose"
Scottish Salmon Watch was hoping to wait to file this FOI request until the ruling from the Scottish Information Commissioner (as filed in February 2020) but it seems that if we wait any longer then Imidacloprid will already be used commercially at salmon farms across Scotland.
Please consider this a formal FOI request under the relevant FOI and Environmental Information regulations.
Please provide the information electronically.
Please provide a receipt.
Thanks,
Don Staniford
Director, Scottish Salmon Watch
Scottish Salmon Watch also filed another FOI request with the Scottish Government (following up a FOI request dated 26 October 2020):
From: Don Staniford<salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> Date: Sat, Apr 17, 2021 at 3:48 PM Subject: FOI re. Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan), CleanTreat & Benchmark since 26 October 2020 To: <CEU@gov.scot>
Please include emails, reports, risk assessments, modelling results, surveys, photos, letters, Excel data and any other information in relation to Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan), CleanTreat & Benchmark.
Please detail any meetings and online phone calls (e.g. Zoom) with Benchmark, SSPO, salmon farming companies, Scottish Government officials, SEPA, SNH or any other parties in relation to Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan), CleanTreat & Benchmark.
Scottish Salmon Watch was alarmed to read in the trade press yesterday that Benchmark have appointed an environmental modeller (Meghan Rochford) - formerly employed by Grieg Seafood, The Scottish Salmon Company and Marine Harvest/Mowi - to gear up for the use of Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan) in salmon farming in Scotland.
Please consider this a formal FOI request under the relevant FOI and Environmental Information regulations.
Please provide the information electronically.
Please provide a receipt.
Thanks,
Don Staniford
Director, Scottish Salmon Watch
And a FOI was filed with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate:
From: Don Staniford<salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> Date: Sat, Apr 17, 2021 at 4:01 PM Subject: FOI re. Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan), CleanTreat & Benchmark since 26 October 2020 To: Andrew Saunders <a.saunders@vmd.gov.uk>
Please include emails, reports, risk assessments, modelling results, surveys, photos, letters, Excel data and any other information in relation to Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan), CleanTreat & Benchmark.
Please detail any meetings and online phone calls (e.g. Zoom) with Benchmark, SSPO, salmon farming companies, Scottish Government officials, SEPA, SNH or any other parties in relation to Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan), CleanTreat & Benchmark.
Please include any discussions and information relating EU approval and an MRL.
Fish Farming Expert reported yesterday:
"Aquaculture health, genetics and nutrition company Benchmark Holdings today said that the MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) for its novel sea lice treatment BMK08 has been ratified under European Union law. The ratification follows an opinion adopted by the European Medicine Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use in September last year recommending the inclusion of BMK08’s active pharmaceutical ingredient in fin fish as an allowed substance regarding maximum residue limits in foodstuffs of animal origin":
Scottish Salmon Watch was alarmed to read in the trade press yesterday that Benchmark have appointed an environmental modeller (Meghan Rochford) - formerly employed by Grieg Seafood, The Scottish Salmon Company and Marine Harvest/Mowi - to gear up for the use of Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan) in salmon farming in Scotland.
The walls of the farm are bedecked with fresh flowers and chintzy curtains. If you peer closely into the churning mass of trapped fish you will see some of them sipping tea from china cups. So the short answer: total bullshit!!
Historically the Wye and the Severn were great salmon rivers, but that was quite a long time ago. It is a season’s work to catch one nowadays. The Faroe Isles are a fairly controversial place to do, business with in it’s own right.
— Bruce 🏴☠️ 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 💙 💉🦠 (@BruceSCrawford) April 15, 2021
Does the use of the word "boutique" break any marketing and advertising laws?
What is a boutique salmon farm? Is that word normally allowed by trading standards to describe any farm?
🙄😡 'Boutique comes from a French word of the same spelling, which means any small shop. The word has its roots in the Greek word apotheke, meaning "a warehouse."'
Good question - I think "boutique" salmon means that Rick goes shopping for his pharmed salmon at an organic, natural & "free-range" farm in the Faroes. "The quality of these beautiful fish is close to wild salmon" https://t.co/7iASW5Iqac#Bollocks#Scampic.twitter.com/1U0Df3Tox3
Is Rick Stein misleading shoppers by advertising his salmon as smoked "on the edge of the Royal Forest of Dean between two of England's most celebrated salmon rivers" if it comes from farms in Ireland, Scotland, Faroes or Australia? @Rick_Stein@SevernWyehttps://t.co/LJd5ZpLPA4pic.twitter.com/4v9t7xJiz7
Scottish Salmon Watch seriously doubts that Rick Stein is sourcing wild salmon from the River Wye, River Severn or other English rivers. Seafood Source reported in 2015:
"VAR 'free range' Salmon is a farmed fish from a pioneering whole wild Salmon producer off the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands VAR Salmon farming process is centred around the welfare of the fish from fish egg to the eventual harvest of the whole salmon, where the fish is farmed in its natural environment without the use of chemicals or antibiotics, making this salmon a premium species. The quality of these beautiful fish is close to wild salmon"
Surely farmed salmon - forced to spend their lives in cramped cages - are by definition not "free range"?
How is VAR salmon farmed by a "pioneering whole wild Salmon producer"?
When your web-site states that it is farmed "without the use of chemicals" is this really true?
Surely the salmon farming company behind VAR 'free-range' salmon uses Hydrogen Peroxide, Emamectin benzoate, Deltamethrin, Azamethiphos, Formaldehyde, disinfectants, colourings, adjuvants or other chemicals in the hatchery and/or sea cage farming process?
Which salmon farming company in the Faroes is your VAR salmon sourced from?
HiddenFjord's web-site does not currently claim not to use chemicals. It states: "We use no antibiotics or hormones in our farming" (via https://hiddenfjord.com/our-products)
Scottish Salmon Watch is looking for site specific information on the two Faroese salmon farms sourced by Rick Stein. If they are sourced from Hiddenfjord then they are not currently certified as 'environmentally friendly' by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council - who currently certify 18 salmon farms in the Faroes including Bakkafrost and Mowi salmon farms:
It is not surprising that the identity of the Faroese salmon farmer supplying Rick Stein with non-boutique farmed salmon appears hidden from public view - the Faroe Islands hardly has a good reputation as viewers of Netflix's 'Seaspiracy' will know.
When Scottish Salmon Watch visited Mowi's "healthy" salmon farm in Loch Torridon in September 2020 the farmed salmon on display in a tanker full of dead fish did not look very healthy (no wonder Mowi's lawyers desperately want us to sling our hook).
Mowi's 'fresh' salmon from the Outer Hebrides look particularly tasty, yummy, healthy and are RSPCA Assured 'welfare friendly' to make you buy with in good conscience!
Is Rick Stein misleading shoppers by advertising his salmon as smoked "on the edge of the Royal Forest of Dean between two of England's most celebrated salmon rivers" if it comes from farms in Ireland, Scotland, Faroes or Australia? @Rick_Stein@SevernWyehttps://t.co/LJd5ZpLPA4pic.twitter.com/4v9t7xJiz7
