Don Staniford, Director of Scottish Salmon Watch, said:
"Whilst this scathing report is a shot across the bows of the industry, it is disappointing that the RECC stopped short of recommending a moratorium. The damning video evidence of lice infestation and welfare problems inside salmon farms and footage of mass mortalities reveal Scottish salmon farming to be dead in the water. The closing down of Scotland's worst salmon farms must happen as a matter of urgency. Bigger farms further offshore will exacerbate welfare problems with more farmed salmon skinned alive in storms. Scottish salmon farming is an environmental and welfare nightmare."