Green Around the Gills : October 2018

Video of BBC Landward

Watch BBC iPlayer online here

For those outside the UK here's a few video clips from BBC Landward's "Saving Our Salmon" documentary (16 October 2018):

Read more via: BBC Landward: "Saving Our Salmon"

Posted at 11:59 PM | Permalink

BBC Landward: "Saving Our Salmon"

Watch "Saving Our Salmon" online here (available after broadcast on 16 October 2018)

Scottish Field reported (11 October 2018):

Fish Farming Expert reported (14 October 2018):

Read article in full online here

Posted at 09:29 AM | Permalink

The Scotsman: "Scotland’s salmon windfall soars above £1bn, but production set to fall by fifth"

The Scotsman newspaper reported (16 October):

Here's The Scotsman's Leader Comment (16 October 2018):

The Daily Mail reported (16 October 2018):

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Fergus Sings the Norwegian Blues!

"The fish farm industry forms an integral part of Scotland's rural economy – creating jobs and providing capital in some of our most rural communities," crowed Fergus Ewing (Scotland's Minister for the Promotion of Foreign-Owned Salmon Farming) in The Herald (15 October 2018). "So it’s very encouraging to see salmon production value on the increase yet again."

"Demand for quality Scottish salmon continues to outstrip supply and the sector aspires to grow to meet demand, but we also recognise the importance of steady, sustainable development," he continued. "These new figures, alongside the investment in tackling emerging challenges give us great confidence in the sector’s ability for sustainable growth over the coming years."

The National reported (16 October 2018):

Fergus calmly kept the horror story quiet - the new figures forecast a 21% fall representing 39,000 tonnes of lost production in 2018 due to a nightmare combination of infectious diseases and mass mortalities.

Read the Scottish salmon farming industry's latest lice data online here

Watch a horror video on lice infestation via the BBC's The One Show broadcast on 10 September 2018:

Fish Farming Expert at least reported on the predicted fall in production in 2018 (15 October 2018):

In reality, the Scottish salmon farming industry is dead in the water with over 25,000 tonnes of dead salmon reported in 2017 (an estimated 15-20 million fish) along with skip loads of dead 'cleaner fish'.

Watch a video report online here

The new data published by the Scottish Government reveals that the mortality rate in the sea phase of production is now over a fifth - and if you account for the losses in the hatchery the true mortality rate from egg to plate stands at almost a half.

Here's the 2017 Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey:

In January 2018, Fergus admitted via a Scottish Parliamentary reply that over a quarter (26.7%) of all Scottish farmed salmon (nearly 13 million) were dying on salmon farms:

In April 2018, Fergus was at the Brussels Seafood Show flexing his muscles on behalf of the predominantly Norwegian-owned 'Scottish' salmon farming sector and pledging his support to a reckless expansion plan to double or even treble salmon farming production by 2030:

Last month Fergus Ewing vowed to deal with "detractors":

Here's a video from one of Fergus's "detractors" - photographer Corin Smith:

The Daily Record reported last month:

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Press Release: "The Skinny on Scottish Salmon"

Read press release in full as a PDF online here

Posted at 02:40 AM | Permalink

The National: "Concerns raised over Scottish salmon roe imports"

The National reported (13 October 2018):

The National: "Government 'failing to protect Scottish salmon'"

Imported eggs ruling 'makes a mockery of Scottish salmon'

Press Release: "Complete Mockery of the Brand 'Scottish Salmon'"

Posted at 10:41 AM | Permalink

Press Release: "Secret 'Scottish' Salmon"

Download press release in full as a PDF online here

Posted at 08:46 AM | Permalink

Scottish Parliamentary Motion on the Welfare of Farmed Fish

Read the Scottish Parliamentary motion on the welfare of farmed fish online here

Read more via:

Posted at 09:56 AM | Permalink

Stop Suffering & Cruelty on Scottish Salmon Farms

Don Staniford, Director of Scottish Salmon Watch, reporting outside the Scottish Parliament and the Supreme Courts of Scotland in Edinburgh:

Please donate to fund a legal challenge online here

Please donate to fund further filming and sampling online here

Posted at 09:16 AM | Permalink

Sunday Mail: "Off the Scale - Air system failure killed £15m worth of salmon farm stock"

The Sunday Mail reported (7 October 2018):

Download as a JPeg online here

Posted at 10:51 AM | Permalink

STV News on the "Nightmares" for Scottish Salmon!

STV News reported (5 October 2018):

Here's a Tweet:

More via:

BBC News: "One in five Scottish fish farms 'not meeting standards'"

Leading fish farm watchdog joins fish farm industry

Failing Fish Farms: Scotland's Worst Salmon Farms Named & Shamed

SEPA permits salmon farming to slip net

SEPA's shame on salmon farming

Scotland's green watchdog wined and dined by polluters

Government watchdog bowed to industry pressure on fish farm pollution

Failing Fish Farms - 18% rated "poor" by SEPA in 2015

Posted at 09:29 AM | Permalink

Times: "Fears for environment as more fish farms fail to comply with standards"

The Times reported (6 October 2018):

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Private Eye: "RSPCA: Synchronised Swimming"

Private Eye reported (5 October 2018):

Read the Salmon & Trout Conservation Scotland's report on the RSPCA online here

Read George Monbiot's article in The Guardian via "The RSPCA rescues one seal – and condones the killing of many others"

Read The Daily Mirror on "RSPCA boss lambasted for saying shooting seals is 'humane pest control' - forcing animal-lovers to cancel memberships"

Read more on the RSPCA's seal-killing practices via: "Herald: "RSPCA attacked for fresh support for Scots seal shooting to protect salmon"

Read more via:

Private Eye: "Down on the Fish Farm"

Old Trout lives on in the Private Eye archive!

RIP Bruce Sandison - Old Trout is Dead, Long Live Old Trout!

Posted at 11:33 AM | Permalink

Shooting Times: "Standing Up for Salmon"

The Shooting Times reported (3 October 2018):

Digital version available to buy online here

Watch video footage shot on salmon farms online here

Read more via:

Posted at 11:03 AM | Permalink

Justice for Fish - Welfare of Scottish Salmon in Legal Spotlight

A Crowd Justice campaign to fund legal action to stop cruelty and suffering on Scottish salmon farms has been launched. Scottish Salmon Watch is proposing a legal challenge because they believe that salmon farms in Scotland run the risk of breaching the Animal Health & Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 - specifically in relation to "Unnecessary Suffering", "Cruel Operations" and "Ensuring Welfare of Animals".

Please donate online here

"Cramming the 'King of Fish' in cramped and overcrowded cages is cruel and a welfare nightmare," said Don Staniford, Director of Scottish Salmon Watch. "Scientific research has shown that salmon are sentient beings who feel pain and distress. Secret filming inside salmon farms reveals shocking suffering on salmon farms. Legal action is urgently needed to raise welfare standards on Scottish salmon's torture chambers. Fish have feelings too but have no voice so we need to speak out on their behalf and stand up against cruelty and suffering on Scottish salmon farms."