[Download press release with Notes to Editors as a PDF online here]
New research - "Large-scale underwater noise pollution from Acoustic Deterrent Devices (ADDs) on the west coast of Scotland" - presented earlier this week at the European Cetacean Society conference in Denmark sounds the alarm on the use of ADDs on Scottish salmon farms [1]. The Global Alliance Against Industrial Aquaculture is now calling for an immediate ban on the use of ADDs on salmon farms to protect cetaceans, especially harbour porpoises on the West coast of Scotland.
Read more via today's Sunday Herald: "Health of whales, dolphins and porpoises put at risk by underwater alarms"
Today (7 May), GAAIA filed a formal complaint with the European Commission against the UK and Scottish Government for the "deliberate & reckless disturbance" of cetaceans (European Protected Species) including breach of The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended in Scotland) and breach of the Inner Hebrides and the Minches candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) for harbour porpoise submitted to the European Commission in 2016 [2].
"Their unregulated use in Scotland could pose unintended ecological impacts to non-target species such as the harbour porpoise," stated the paper co-authored by scientists from the Scottish Association of Marine Science, the University of St. Andrews and Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust. "Results found a significant spatial and temporal increase in ADD presence across the west coast study regions. This study highlights the large-scale extent of noise from ADDs use at fish farms across Scotland and illustrates its gradual increase over the study period. The increasing ensonification of the Scottish coastline which increase multiple protected areas for marine mammals, due to these devices may pose a risk to both target and non-target species," continued the paper (which will be submitted soon for publication in a scientific journal).
A research update presented at the Scottish Association of Marine Science (SAMS) in August 2016 showed that "the Sound of Mull and Loch Linnhe were completely ensonified, and that the ADD signal can be detected all the way across the Minch" (reported by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) in an internal email obtained by GAAIA via Freedom of Information). "There was preliminary analysis of how the levels dropped with distance (from two locations) - from Portree the signal could be detected out to 20km from source, in Lochmaddy the signal could be detected out to 30km. This is in keeping with literature which suggests the signal can travel up to 50km".
"This new scientific research sounds the alarm bells on the use of ADDs on salmon farms far and wide," said Don Staniford, Director of the Global Alliance Against Industrial Aquaculture. "The increasing use of ADDs surely represents a case of 'deliberate and reckless disturbance' and therefore constitutes a breach of the law. Salmon farmers are clearly guilty of propagating porpoise noise pollution, pardon the pun, on purpose. Please hear the clarion calls of cetaceans all around the Scottish coast - stop noise pollution from salmon farms now."
According to the Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust, the waters of the Hebrides are one of the most important marine habitats in Europe, home to nearly 70% of its whale, dolphin and porpoise species, in addition to basking sharks and seals [3].
GAAIA is calling on MSPs to speak out loudly in support of cetacean protection by supporting an immediate ban on the use of ADDs on salmon farms [4]. GAAIA maintains that, at a bare minimum, all salmon farms currently using ADDs must apply for a licence including detailed evidence that "there are no satisfactory alternatives" (e.g. anti-predator nets, closed containment on land; translocation of seals; or startle devices).
"Salmon farmers are clearly caught between a rock and a hard place, between the devil and the deep blue sea," concluded Staniford. "On the one hand they can continue to shoot seals (and lose £200 million in US exports) and on the other they can continue to use ADDs. The industry must bite the bullet and immediately install anti-predator nets or move salmon farms out of the ocean."
Data compiled by Marine Scotland and obtained by GAAIA from SNH via FOI include site specific details of 119 salmon farms using ADDs (including 103 where ADDs were described as "Always On"). In comparison, 86 salmon farms did not use ADDs (1 October 2015 to 30 September 2016 is listed as the 'Application Period'; October 2015 is listed as a 'Creation Date' and 1 February 2016 to 31 January 2017 is listed as the 'Licence Period).
The latest data obtained by GAAIA from SNH via FOI reveals that there are 135 salmon farms listed as using ADDs and 70 not using ADDs (9 sites have no data available for ADD use). Of the 135 salmon farms using ADDs, 84 are listed as "ADD Always On" and 50 as not "ADD Always On" (one site has no data re. the question "ADD Always On"). Of the 135 salmon farms which reported the use of ADDs in 2016, 67 salmon farms used an Airmar/Mon Aqua; 33 salmon farms used a used a Terecos; 32 salmon farms used an Ace Aquatech and 3 salmon farm used an OTAQ (1 February 2017 to 31 January 2018 is listed as a 'Licence Period' and 1 October 2016 to 30 September 2017 is listed as the 'Application Period').
For a full list of salmon farms using ADDs see Note [5] and Download SNH FOI 25 April 2017 document #7 ADDs used only.
Note that the latest Scottish Government fish farm production survey 2015 - published in September 2016 - reported 254 salmon farm sites but only 139 were active (i.e. 115 reported zero production). In other words, it seems that the vast majority of active salmon farms - perhaps over 95% - use ADDs.
Data disclosed by SNH details companies and regions which use and do not use ADDs:
Download the documents in full online via:
- Download SNH FOI 25 April 2017 document #1
- Download SNH FOI 25 April 2017 document #2
- Download SNH FOI 25 April 2017 document #3
- Download SNH FOI 25 April 2017 document #4
- Download SNH FOI 25 April 2017 document #5
- Download SNH FOI 25 April 2017 document #6
- Download SNH FOI 25 April 2017 document #7
Read more via Media Backgrounder: ADDs & Salmon Farms (May 2017) [6].
Read GAAIA's formal complaint to the European Commission (7 May 2017) online here
Read GAAIA's letter to the Scottish Government, SNH and the UK Government (7 May 2017) online here
Download press release with Notes to Editors as a PDF online here
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