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07/09/2021

Scottish Government backtracks on neonicotinoid use in salmon pharming: "there is no planned imminent approval of Imidacloprid"

 



 

Here's a letter from the Scottish Government dated 21 June 2021 stating that "there is no planned imminent approval of Imidacloprid in the marine environment".

 

 

SG letter backtracking on Imidacloprid 21 June 2021 #1 SG letter backtracking on Imidacloprid 21 June 2021 #2

 

SG letter backtracking on Imidacloprid 21 June 2021 #3

Download letter as a PDF online here

 

 

 

 

 

 

The letter was in response to this email to Scottish Ministers dated 7 June 2021:

 

 

Domminney

63 Kingsacre Road

Glasgow

G44 4LW

Dear Scottish Government

My MSP is James Dornan, who advised me to refer my concern to Scottish Ministers.

I draw your attention to this Guardian article, explaining that Marine Scotland and SEPA appear minded to raise no objection to the introduction of the Clean Treat system by fish farm biocide treatment company Benchmark- https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/27/novichok-for-insects-may-be-approved-for-scottish-fish-farms?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other. We ask you to oppose this, if it comes before the Scottish Parliament.

The treatment includes the neonicotinoid based chemical, Imidacloprid. Neonicotinoids are banned in the EU (and in the UK while in the EU) but, incredibly, not for use in water, after heavy lobbying by pharma tech giant Bayer. The chemical is, nevertheless, found in animal flea treatment and has already made its way into English water courses, despite its ban in farming.  Neonicotinoids are extremely dangerous to insect life and have proved disastrous to entire ecosystems in places where they have been introduced widely, such as Japan. They are very effective against lice on industrial farmed salmon, however, which is why the big salmon farming companies, who seem to have an unhealthy grip on the Scottish Government, are desperate to use it.

The linked article summarises the issues well but I believe there are other pieces in the Scottish press and, of course, Private Eye has reported the numerous salmon farm pollutions, chemical releases, and incidents of storm-damaged cages releasing thousands of infected fish, as well as the industry’s relentless efforts to expand,  despite its dreadful record.

We hope that the Scottish Government ministers will decide against trialling this treatment which, we understand, may be the subject of an application by the treatment company, Benchmark.

Best regards

Nick & Sue Domminney

 

 

 

 

The Ferret reported (21 May 2021):

 

 

 

 

The Guardian reported (27 May 2021):

 

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch reported earlier today (9 July 2021):

 

 

 

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Posted at 06:54 AM |

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