Scottish Government backtracks on neonicotinoid use in salmon pharming: "there is no planned imminent approval of Imidacloprid" https://t.co/B2Q7K3Ygvg @scotgov @ScotGovNetZero @MairiGougeon @FergusEwingSNP @MairiMcAllan @ScottishEPA @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @vmdgovuk pic.twitter.com/KEfpz4OVmj
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 9, 2021
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".
Download letter as a PDF online here
Scottish gov’t clarifies Imidacloprid is not being lined up for use on salmon farms https://t.co/b5QcYzS7BD @undercur @scotgov @MairiMcAllan @MairiGougeon @ScotGovNetZero @FergusEwingSNP @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @ScottishEPA @MowiScotlandLtd @SSPOsays @scotseafarms pic.twitter.com/yVQLtCRcMv
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 9, 2021
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):
Marine Scotland’s director, Annabel Turpie, has backed a treatment system for farmed fish designed to use a pesticide with “potentially devastating consequences for marine life”.https://t.co/kCHxUc4YBC
— The Ferret (@FerretScot) May 21, 2021
The Guardian reported (27 May 2021):
Don Staniford who obtained the emails via FOI said: “The Scottish government are paving the way for this toxic chemical to be used even before the environmental risk assessments are published"https://t.co/OzouYaXCEk @marinescotland @ScottishEPA @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @scotgp
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021
Scottish Salmon Watch reported earlier today (9 July 2021):
REVEALED: "Commercially confidential" email from Scotland's 'Aquaculture Minister' @scotgov lobbies for the use of the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid via 'CleanTreat' @WeAreBenchmark claiming it will "help us overcome negative press" https://t.co/fzG3MMck0s @ScottishEPA pic.twitter.com/7o0DeVl1Ja
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 9, 2021
- Dirty Secrets Exposed: FOI Disclosure by SEPA on Benchmark's Banned Neonicotinoid Ectosan/BMK08 (Imidacloprid)
- Salmon Pharming's 'Silent Spring' of the Sea
- "New weapon against salmon lice" reports Norwegian media (failing to mention Ectosan is the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid)
- Norway Approves Banned Bee-Killing Neonicotinoid for Use on Norwegian Salmon - Scotland, Chile & Canada Next In Firing Line!
- Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid Dogged by Lawsuits, Bans & Deaths - Is Benchmark's BMK08 in the doghouse or will it be unleashed?
- Canadian field trials of the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid on salmon farms?
- Norwegian Environment Agency FOI reply lifts lid on banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid
- Interferencia: "Salmon Farming - Norwegian company seeks to commercialize in Chile a pesticide banned by the EU for being 'very toxic' to aquatic life"
- Anyone for Norwegian Salmon Marinaded in the Banned Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (don't worry it's ASC-approved)?!
- "EU deals potential setback to Benchmark’s rollout of new sea lice treatment"
- Fish Farmer: "MEPs condemn new lice treatment: who's right" "
- "EU setback for novel lice treatment"
- Breaking News: Victory in Europe - Parliament votes against the use of the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in farmed salmon!
- Fish Farming Expert: "Novel lice treatment threatened by European Parliament vote"
- Wave of European Opposition to Benchmark's Imidacloprid (BMK08) - the tide turns against neonicotinoids in salmon pharming!
- European Opposition to Neonicotinoid Contamination of Farmed Salmon - is BMK08 (Imidacloprid) dead in the water?
- The Guardian: "‘Novichok for insects’ may be approved for Scottish fish farms"
- Who are the toxic team lurking behind Benchmark's BMK08 (Imidacloprid) in Scottish salmon pharming?
- The Ferret: "Bee-killing pesticide treatment for fish farms backed by Scottish Government"
- Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon - Benchmark's magic trick making the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid disappear!
- Rumsfeldian Fish Philosophy - Things We Know We Know, Things We Now Know We Don't Know & Things We Don't Know We Don't Know About 'Scottish' Salmon!
- SEPA ordered by Commissioner to Disclose 'Commercially Confidential' Information on CleanTreat & BMK08 (Imidacloprid) by 7 June
- Warning: Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming "Clears Another Hurdle" With European MRL
- Warning: Imidacloprid Moves A Step Closer to Commercial Use in Salmon Farming
- Nasty Neonicotinoid Plagues Salmon Farming in 2021
- Toxic Neonicotinoid "Close to Commercial Launch" in Salmon Farming!
- New Science Dogs Approval of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid for Scottish Salmon!
- Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming?
- Secret Salmon - On the Trail of Imidacloprid Use in Scotland!
- British Wildlife: "Neonics in Salmon Farming - Alarm Bells Are Ringing"
- Caveat Chile - toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (BMK08) coming soon!
- Toxic Politics - Meet the Scottish Government's Minister for Sinister Chemicals
- Imidacloprid Licensed for Use by Mowi in Loch Ailort?
- Further Scientific Opposition to Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
- Patent lifts lid on neonicotinoid use in salmon farming
- Horrible History: Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming
- Scientific Opposition to Neonicotinoid Use in Salmon Farming
- Backgrounder: "Imidacloprid - A Neonicotinoid Insecticide Toxic to Aquatic Life"
- BBC Farming Today on "Neonicotinoids in Salmon Farming"
- Sunday Times: "Outlawed insecticide may be used on Scottish salmon"
- FOI letter on Scientific Concerns re. Imidacloprid Use in Scottish Salmon Farming
- Scottish Greens "Deeply Concerned" at Mowi's Field Trial of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in Loch Ailort
- Letter to the Prince of Wales re. bee-killing Imidacloprid use at royal warrant holder Mowi
- Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid?
- Follow the Salmoney - the Norwegian tobacco billionaire behind the Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid
- ENDS Report: "Calls for greater transparency over ‘toxic’ new fish farm product"
- Letter to SEPA: Please Come Clean on Imidacloprid!
- Letter to Scottish Ministers, SEPA & the VMD re. Imidacloprid
- FOI requests on Imidacloprid to SEPA, VMD & the Scottish Government
- Revealed: Toxic Neonicotinoid Insecticide Used to 'CleanTreat' Lousy Salmon
- Please Come Clean on BMK08!
- Sunday Times: "Official fears revealed over toxic threat of salmon trade"
- Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon
- CleanTreat FOI Disclosures by the Scottish Government to Scottish Salmon Watch
- Media Backgrounder: Chemically Embalmed Scottish Salmon
- All is Not Well With Sick Scottish Salmon
How Scotland is now being portrayed around the world. Reputation ruined.Well done Scot Gov you’ve done us proud. @VisitScotNews @snp @NicolaSturgeon @Ianblackford_MP @RuthDavidsonPC @ScottishEPA @BBCHighlands @PrivateEyeNews @TheSun @MailOnline @_KateForbes @BBCHighlands https://t.co/gTjT6FL6hB
— Jon Johnson (@Jonnynogaps) June 22, 2021