Why is @scotgov turning a blind eye to welfare abuse of 'cleaner fish' on salmon farms? @ScotlandSalmon @MowiScotlandLtd @salmon_scottish @scotseafarms https://t.co/Rt1GYWAoxV
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 1, 2022
Please end the welfare nightmare! @scotgp @ciwf @PETAUK @HSIGlobal @Animallawyersuk @onekindtweet pic.twitter.com/n3SID7Iy7B
Scamon Scotland (formerly Scottish Salmon Watch) has written to Scottish Ministers demanding an end to the dirty and lethal trade in 'cleaner fish' used by salmon farming companies across Scotland (read the letter dated 1 February 2022 online here).
The letter to Scottish Ministers cites 'Case Information' reported by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate during 2021 - including 2.2 million cleaner fish (wrasse and lumpfish) stocked on salmon farms with 333,519 reported morts (both wrasse and lumpfish):
When Scottish Salmon Watch visited The Scottish Salmon Company in Toward near Dunoon in September 2020 we were horrified at the extent of wrasse mortalities:
The secrecy surrounding the trade in 'cleaner fish' - various species of wrasse and lumpsuckers/lumpfish - raises alarm bells. When Scottish Salmon Watch asked to film 'cleaner fish' (wrasse) being delivered by Solway Transport to Scottish Sea Farms in July 2020 we were warned that the Ministry of Defence would come after us (the delivery guy filmed in the video footage shot in Loch Creran said he worked black ops for the MoD!):
Data on the harvesting of wild wrasse for use on salmon farms in Scotland is not publicly available - except data disclosed in January 2022 detailing over 280,000 wrasse imported from JJ ONeill in Northern Ireland to Mowi Scotland and Kames Fish Farming. Further data may be collected by the Scottish Government via new measures introduced in 2020 but it is not readily available (Salmon Scotland has published some information on cleaner fish - including catch data for wild wrasse in 2018 and 2019 but there does not seem to be any published data for 2020 or 2021).
Fish Farmer reported in December 2020 that the new measures would be introduced in May 2021:
The Fish Site reported in May 2020 that 1.2 million wild caught wrasse were used each year on salmon farms in Scotland.
A Freedom of Information reply by the Scottish Government in August 2017 disclosed that "1.5 million farmed cleaner fish were utilised by the aquaculture sector in Scotland in 2016" but also highlighted gaps and lacks in the data:
Another FOI reply by the Scottish Government in November 2018 revealed an abject lack of information on cleaner fish mortalities and disposal of dead fish:
The salmon farming lobby group Salmon Scotland (formerly called the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation) has published a factsheet on cleaner fish but it does not provide specific details on total numbers nor any information on mortalities:
Data published in June 2021 by The Journal/Noteworthy details ca. 300,000 to 400,000 wild caught wrasse moved to salmon farms in Ireland each year:
In an attempt to estimate mortalities as well as gauge the scale of welfare and disease problems in wrasse and lumpfish used by salmon farms in Scotland, Scottish Salmon Watch has looked at 'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government detailing inspections by the Fish Health Inspectorate of salmon farms during 2021 (data up to November - although there is still some missing case reports from September and October). It makes for uncomfortable reading and points to serious welfare, disease and mortality problems for cleaner fish on salmon farms across Scotland.
Back in December 2018, OneKind published a damning report on the welfare of cleaner fish on salmon farms in Scotland - including reference to 'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate:
OneKind concluded:
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for inspections of salmon farms during 2021 details 5,765 wild caught wrasse 'removed' (i.e. killed) from a population of 12,187 wrasse (47% mortality) when Scottish Sea Farms experienced a mass mortality of 75,000+ farmed salmon in October 2021 at their ASC-audited salmon farm at Toyness on Orkney (online as a PDF via Cases 20210431-20210458):
Other cases inspected in October 2021 included Mowi's North Shore salmon farm in Loch Erisort (Cases 20210390-20210430) which reported 117,414 lumpfish mortalities (49%) since two inputs in December 2020 and February 2021 (no data on mortalities of wrasse was provided):
Mowi's Tabhaigh salmon farm in Loch Erisort reported wild caught wrasse (14,742) and lumpsuckers (52,908) on site but did not provide mortality numbers (Cases 20210390-20210430):
An inspection of The Scottish Salmon Company's Druimyeon Bay salmon farm in October 2021 (Cases 2021-0385, p39-41) detailed 50,000 lumpsuckers on site imported from Mowi's Ocean Matters on Angelsey in North Wales (no mortality rates or numbers were provided):
An inspection of The Scottish Salmon Company's Portree salmon farm off the Isle of Skye in October 2021 (Cases 2021-0385, p1-3) detailed lumpfish losses of 12.4% since input in February to April 2021 from Mowi's Ocean Matters facility in North Wales (90,980 lumpfish were reported as stocked in the salmon farm):
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for September 2021 reported 1,495 wrasse (presumably broodstock used to supply ova) at Mowi's Larval Rearing Unit at Macrihanish in Argyll (Case 2021-0252; p1-3):
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for September 2021 reported 1,495 wrasse broodfish and 3 million wrasse larvae at Mowi's Larval Rearing Unit at Macrihanish in Argyll (Case 2021-0338; p119-121) with some "minor fin damage due to increased aggression between individuals during spawning":
Last week (14 January 2022), Scottish Salmon Watch revealed that 7.2 million ova from Mowi's Larval Rearing Unit at Macrihanish were exported in August and September 2022 to Norway (as well as lumpfish imported to Scotland from Norway):
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in September 2021 revealed 788 wrasse morts in Week 34 and 1,670 lumpfish morts in Week 32 (Case 2021-0309, p7-9) due to freshwater treatments and Tenacibaculum with 76,342 wrasse and 14,378 lumpfish on site at Mowi's ASC-audited Caolas a Deas salmon farm in Loch Shell:
The journal Aquaculture reported in June 2016:
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in September 2021 at Scallastle Bay (Scottish Sea Farms) reported 16,075 wild caught wrasse on site but did not provide mortality numbers (Case 2021-0325, p95-97):
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in August 2021 (Case 2021-0234, p25-46) details mortalites in lumpfish of up to 1,613 in a week due to Pseudomonas (a bacterial disease), wounds and fin damage and 'emancipation' (which by strict definition means "the freeing of someone from slavery") at Mowi's Invasion Bay salmon farm in Loch Sunart (a site certified as "farmed responsibly" by the ASC):
The above data shows that for 564,274 salmon on site there were 104,058 lumpfish and 30,988 wrasse - a ratio of ca. 1 cleaner fish per 4 salmon.
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in August 2021 (Case 2021-0270, p47-49) details mortalites in lumpfish at Mowi's Camas Glas salmon farm in Loch Sunart (a site being audited for ASC-certification) with 4,114 dead lumpfish in one week and 3,251 dead lumpfish in another week (decomposition and wounds were cited as reasons):
The above data shows that there were 663,036 salmon on site with 35,404 farmed lumpfish and 44,102 wild wrasse - a ratio of ca. 1 cleaner fish to 9 salmon.
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in August 2021 (Case 2021-0313, p104-111) details 2,000 Ballan wrasse broodstock at Mowi's Larval Rearing Unit at Macrihanish in Argyll with 1 million ova exported to Norway:
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in August 2021 (Case 2021-0315, p112-117) details 2,000 Ballan wrasse at Mowi's Wrasse Broodstock Unit at Macrihanish in Argyll in different year classes (2012, 2013 and 2019):
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in July 2021 details 61,013 lumpsuckers on The Scottish Salmon Company's West Strome salmon farm in Loch Carron (from Otter Ferry in Argyll and Swansea University in Wales) along with 501,199 salmon. "Lumpsuckers are stocked between 8-10%," reported the Fish Health Inspectorate's visit on 28 July 2021 (Case 2021-0271, p17-31):
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in July 2021 details 27,000 wild caught wrasse but no lumpsuckers on The Scottish Salmon Company's Sgian Dubh salmon farm in Loch Striven with 811,917 salmon (Cases 2021-0245, p1-3):
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in July 2021 details (Case 2021-0247, p29-33) Furunculosis in one broodstock wrasse with Furunculosis infection causing "slightly increased mortality" treated with antibiotics and the use of the carcinogenic chemical Formaldehyde (Formalin), Chloramine T disinfectant and Pyceze (Bronopol) at Mowi's Larval Rearing Unit at Macrihanish in Argyll:
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in July 2021 details (Case 2021-0248, p37-40) how Mowi's Wrasse Broodstock Unit at Macrihanish in Argyll uses the carcinogenic chemical Formaldehyde (Formalin) once a month prophylactically on bigger fish and every two weeks (along with Pyceze/Bronopol) for smaller fish:
When Scottish Salmon Watch visited Mowi's wrasse facility at Macrihanish in July 2020 we discovered empty containers of the carcinogenic chemical Formaldehye (Formalin) in a skip outside and containers of the shellfish and seaweed killing chemical Hydrogen peroxide:
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in June 2021 details salmon stocked with 6% lumpfish (371,241 salmon with 19,072 lumpfish) at Mowi's Ornish Island salmon farm sourced from Mowi-owned Ocean Matters in Angelsey, North Wales, with 5.13% lumpfish mortality (2.612) since input (Cases 2021-0211, p85-7)
Mowi reported in April 2019:
Fish Farmer reported in January 2020:
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in July 2021 details Pseudomonas infection in lumpfish leading to treatment with the antibiotic Florfenicol and 22% mortality (48,499 dead lumpfish) since input in February 2021 at Mowi's Ardintoul salmon farm in Loch Alsh (Case 2021-0273, p107-9). Lumpfish were stocked at 12% (216,733 lumpfish on the site with 1,741,111 salmon):
Another Fish Health Inspectorate visit to Mowi's Ardintoul salmon farm in Loch Alsh in October 2019 published the first photos of diseased lumpfish along with details of mass mortalities and diseases (Case-2019-0577, p82-3):
First official photos of lumpfish on salmon farms published by @marinescotland Infected with Aeromonas salmonicida (Furunculosis), Vibrio & Shewanella @MowiScotlandLtd https://t.co/qr0tO3BMVR 17,000 dead leading to treatment with antibiotic (Aquatet/Oxytetracycline) @APHAgovuk pic.twitter.com/nYXDBnWfkx
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 27, 2020
Here’s the Scottish Government Fish Health Inspectorate’s report (Case-2019-0577, p49) which refers to a ‘movement on of cleaner fish from Ireland’ (and also details farmed lumpsuckers from Mowi-owned Ocean Matters on Angelsey in Wales):
Here's photos obtained by Scottish Salmon Watch during a visit to Ardintoul on 2 November 2019 (two weeks after the FHI inspection) including dead lumpfish:
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in July 2021 details "significant" mortalities in lumpfish caused by Flavivirus at Mowi's Loch Duich salmon farm with 37% mortality (27,000 dead lumpfish) since input in May 2021 (Case 2021-0274, p121-124). The mortalities were "attributed to a Flavivirus infection that was transferred from the supplier" (Ocean Matters in Angelsey, North Wales, which was bought by Mowi in April 2019). Lumpfish were stocked at 8% (42,000 lumpfish - presumably there used to be another 27,000 - with 705,275 salmon and 6,409 wild caught wrasse from Skye and Weymouth in England ("the site will continue to receive wrasse until they reach a stocking density of 2%):
In October 2018, BBC News exposed the fishing of wrasse in a 'No Take Zone' off the South Coast of England:
Fish Farming Expert reported in October 2018:
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in June 2021 detailed 1,400 wild caught wrasse at Loch Duart's Calva Bay salmon farm (with 538,925 salmon) but did not provide specific details of mortalities (Case 2021-0168, p1-3):
When Scottish Salmon Watch visited Loch Duart in 2018 we found storage facilities for cleaner fish:
As well as mort storage:
And toxic chemicals:
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in June 2021 details "black loss" mortality problems in cleaner fish at The Scottish Salmon Company's Gometra salmon farm with 10,995 mortalities (8,807 Ballan wrasse) and a further 9,770 and 3,398 lumpfish morts and another 10,000+ lumpfish morts recorded during the harvest cycle (Case 2021-0192, p37-9). On the site during the inspection there were 346,794 salmon; 30,000 farmed lumsuckers and 7,121 wild wrasse reported (ca. 10% stocking with cleaner fish):
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in June 2021 also refers to "black loss" at The Scottish Salmon Company's Geasgill salmon farm with cleaner fish described as "most vulnerable to bad weather" and ca. 1,500 lumpfish morts over the previous month. On the site on the Isle of Mull there were 90,711 lumpfish along with 787,387 salmon - a ratio of ca. 1 lumpfish per 9 salmon (Case 2021-0194, p60-2):
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in June 2021 (Cases 20210190-20210222) details inspections of two more salmon farms operated by The Scottish Salmon Company on the Isle of Lewis where lumpfish were stocked with salmon at ca. 10% (i.e. 1 lumpfish per 10 salmon) but did not detail mortalities:
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in June 2021 details "above expected" mortalities of cleaner fish at The Scottish Salmon Company's Gravir salmon farm in Loch Odhairn but admitted that the "company not 100% sure of the cause" (Case 2021-0200, p39-41). 870,608 salmon were stocked with 11,876 wrasse and 54,418 lumpfish (presumably there were more lumpfish prior to 'above expected' mortalities):
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in July 2021 details no cleaner fish at Grieg Seafood's North Papa salmon farm (other cases involving Cooke Aquaculture also reported no cleaner fish) and states that "Company policy has been to limit cleaner fish due to health concerns for the cleaner fish" (Case 2021-0226, p99-101):
In March 2019, an FHI inspection of Grieg's North Papa salmon farm reported shocking welfare abuse of farmed salmon due to an Optilicer treatment (a mechanical device to remove sea lice):
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in June 2021 at the Tanera salmon farm operated by Scottish Sea Farms in the Summer Isles refers to wrasse imported from Ireland but does not record any wrasse or lumpfish in the stocking data or any mortalities (Case 2021-0166):
When Scottish Salmon Watch visited a salmon farm operated by Scottish Sea Farms (who bought Grieg Seafood in 2021) in Loch Spelve we recorded video evidence of lice-infested lumpfish:
When Scottish Salmon Watch visited a salmon farm operated by Mowi at 'Bay of the Dead Heads' in July 2019 we were horrified to discover dead and dying lumpfish:
The Ferret/Sunday National reported in November 2019:
The Ferret/Sunday National article by Rob Edwards included:
Scottish Salmon Watch reported in April 2020:
Censored: Welfare Abuse on Salmon Farms - redacted FOI documents reveal welfare breaches of Animal Health & Welfare Act @rspcaassured @MowiScotlandLtd https://t.co/oJ5ad7XxZw @APHAgovuk @marinescotland @ProfCMDwyer @SSPCA_Mike @SSPOsays @ChrisGPackham @markruskell @scotgp pic.twitter.com/7Fr5ANyTC4
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 23, 2020
A Scottish Government Fish Health Inspectorate report in June 2019 (Case 20190311) detailed mass mortalities and disease in cleanerfish at Mowi’s ‘Bay of the Dead Heads’ (Bagh Dail Nan Cean) salmon farm with “not many wrasse” surviving through the Winter:
A Fish Health report for @MowiScotlandLtd's Bagh Dail nan Ceann salmon farm in June 2019 cited Amoebic Gill Disease in farmed salmon & craters disease in lumpfish. "Issues with mortality increasing with the warmer weather" said @marinescotland https://t.co/UrevkN6lSm @SSPOsays pic.twitter.com/m45QKPtQHs
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) August 21, 2019
Mowi’s nearby salmon farm at Port Na Cro was reported by the Scottish Government’s Fish Health Inspectorate in June 2019 to have mortality problems in lumpfish “with fungus attributed to the warmer weather” (Case 20190312, p15-16):
Another Scottish Government inspection of Mowi’s ‘Bay of the Dead Heads’ (Bagh Dail Nan Cean) salmon farm in August 2019 (following a welfare complaint filed by Scottish Salmon Watch in July 2019) detailed over 40,000 dead wrasse and over 100,000 dead lumpfish (Case 20190376):
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in June 2021 details The Scottish Salmon Company's plans to stock Taranaish salmon farm in Loch Roag with "locally caught wrasse in the summer and lumpfish in the autumn/winter" (Case 2021-0174, p38-40):
Mortality data published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate ealier this month (12 January 2022) details over 200,000 farmed salmon morts at The Scottish Salmon Company's Taranaish salmon farm in December 2021 (no data on dead cleaner fish was provided):
New data - 700,000+ dead Scottish salmon reported in December 2021 @marinescotland @scotgov by @MowiScotlandLtd @scotseafarms @salmon_scottish & @LochDuartSalmon headed by 200,000+ at Taranaish salmon farm in Loch Roag & 130,000+ in Loch Ness @ScotlandSalmon @rspcaassured pic.twitter.com/H950qiQeDJ
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 17, 2022
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in June 2021 detailed “elevated mortalities” of cleaner fish “related to treatments and some higher sea temperatures for lumpfish” at the Nevis A salmon farm operated by Scottish Sea Farms in Loch Nevis (Cases 2021-0182, p71-3). The site was stocked with 33,000 lumpfish and 12,900 wrasse and 146,000 salmon (a ratio of ca. 1 cleaner fish per 3 salmon).
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in June 2021 detailed lumpfish “imported from Ireland for this cycle (2020), not planning to do this in the future” at another Scottish Sea Farms salmon farm in Loch Nevis (Case 2021-0183, p87-9). The FHI report cites a peak in mortalities of cleaner fish (wrasse and lumpfish) of 2,364 in Week 35 of 2020 with “some mortalities of lumpfish believed to be attributed to increased water temperatures). The site was stocked with 62,974 salmon with 4,732 lumpfish and 3,000 wrasse (over 10% cleaner fish):
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in May 2021 detailed 1,340 dead lumpfish at The Scottish Salmon Company's Druimyeon Bay salmon farm off the Isle of Gigha with ca. 10% stocking of cleaner fish - 649,000 salmon and 65,611 lumpfish (Case 2021-0145, p1-3):
The Scottish Salmon Company's Druimyeon Bay salmon farms featured on STV News in October 2021 following mass mortalities:
Thousands of rotting salmon ‘stink out’ village after mass death at farm.https://t.co/hOoOmXr0n7
— STV News (@STVNews) October 20, 2021
Here's photos published earlier this month by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate of lice-infested salmon (no photos of cleaner fish were published) at The Scottish Salmon Company's Druimyeon Bay salmon farm:
Fresh Scottish Salmon anyone? Here's freshly published photos of disease-ridden fish farmed @salmon_scottish off Skye & the Isle of Gigha @marinescotland
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 12, 2022
Please boycott Scottish salmon! @Folketrygdfond @waitrose @coopuk @coopukpress @ScotlandSalmon https://t.co/WK0SjATflz pic.twitter.com/MIBNEityBk
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in May 2021 detailed 2,000 lumpfish morts in a four week period (Weeks 16 to 19) with over 10% stocking of cleaner fish (88,114 lumpfish with 744,661 salmon) at The Scottish Salmon Company's East Tarbert Bay salmon farm off the Isle of Gigha (Case 2021-0146, p14-16):
Inside Scottish Salmon Feedlots reported in October 2021 on mass mortalities at The Scottish Salmon Company off the Isle of Gigha (Druimyeon Bay and East Tarbert Bay):
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in May 2021 details wild wrasse “caught around Mull, Loch Melfort and some were imported from Ireland (not since last inspection)” at Mowi's Poll na Gille salmon farm in the Sound of Jura. “Wrasse were stocked at 4% however, site staff are not observing many in the cages” and “some lumpfish observed across the site but not many” noted the FHI report (Case 2021-0133, p1-3). Cleaner fish were stocked at over 10% - with 609,411 salmon, 38,800 wild caught wrasse and 40,812 lumpfish:
When Scottish Salmon Watch visited Mowi's Poll na Gille salmon farm in July 2021 we found lice-infested salmon swimming inside the cages with small wild fish (perhaps herring) and dozens of dead cleaner fish at a site rated as the worst for welfare by OneKind:
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in May 2021 detailed 4.4% lumpfish mortality and “very few wrasse observed across the site” with 1.2% wrasse mortality in April 2021 at Mowi's Bagh Dail Nan Cean ('Bay of the Dead Heads') salmon farm in the Sound of Jura. Stocking of cleaner fish was very high (ca. 30%) with 394,350 salmon; 135,176 lumpfish and 35,657 wild caught wrasse (Case 2021-0136, p15-17).
Here's video footage of lumpfish feeding on pellets (not lice-infested salmon) inside Mowi's 'Bay of the Dead Heads' salmon farm in July 2021 (the video footage is upside down but you get the picture!):
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in May 2021 detailed lumpfish (from Otter Ferry in Argyll) “stocked at 6%” with 7.2% mortality in April “attributed to handling” at Kames Fish Farming's Shuna SW salmon farm which is operated by Mowi (Case 2021-0139, p47-9). However, the reported stocking data detailed 88,000 lumpfish with 548,993 salmon (ca. 16%).
When Scottish Salmon Watch visited the SWS Shuna salmon farm in July 2021 we found lice-infested farmed salmon:
The Times reported (26 July 2021):
Don Staniford, the director of Scottish Salmon Watch, which campaigns against fish farms, took the video. He said: “In three years of secret filming at more than 25 salmon farms I have never seen such unnecessary suffering” https://t.co/dWHR2Vyr3n @thetimesscot @rspcaassured
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 26, 2021
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in May 2021 detailed farmed and wild Ballan wrasse and wild Corkwing wrasse (8,808) along with 25,655 lumpfish and 275,263 salmon (a cleaner fish stocking rate of over 10%) at Mowi’s ‘organic’ salmon farm in Loch Harport on the Isle of Skye. Cages “stocked with wild wrasse were reported to have had fewer sea lice interventions” reported the FHI (Cases 2021-0051, p1-3).
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in May 2021 detailed 400,000 salmon along with 54,000 cleaner fish (10%+ stocking rate) – 35,000 lumpfish and 19,000 wild wrasse - at Mowi’s Scalpay salmon farm (no data on mortalities was provided) (Case 2021-00551, p15-17):
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in May 2021 detailed 8,792 wild wrasse “caught in west coast of Scotland” with a stocking rate well below 10% (369,195 salmon and 8,792 wrasse) at Loch Spelve salmon farm operated by Scottish Sea Farms (Cases 2021-0132, p78-80).
No data on mortalities, diseases or welfare problems in cleaner fish were provided but photos of diseased salmon - which tested positive for Infectious Salmon Anaemia virus - show serious issues on site.
Infectious Salmon Anaemia comes back to haunt Scottish salmon - positive test reported by @marinescotland @rspcaassured @scotseafarms on Isle of Mull. Buy your fresh virus-laden Scottish salmon @marksandspencer - how many more farms are infected? @MowiScotlandLtd @salmon_scottish pic.twitter.com/JUjMS335xa
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) August 30, 2021
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in April 2021 detailed movement (i.e. import) of lumpfish from Bantry in Ireland (although this import does not show up in FOI data disclosed by the Scottish Government last month) to a salmon farm operated by Scottish Sea Farms in Kempie Bay in Loch Eriboll. Lumpfish were stocked at just over 10% with 13,696 lumpfish and 109,582 salmon (Case 2021-0083, p1-3):
Another Scottish Government inspection in May 2021 of a salmon farm operated by Scottish Sea Farms at nearby Sian Bay also in Loch Eriboll detailed movement of lumpfish from outside Great Britain from Bantry in Ireland at the end of 2020 with “health certificates inspected on site” (even though this import did not show up in FOI data disclosed last month by the Scottish Government). Stocking of lumpfish was over 10% with 31,845 lumpfish and 254,939 salmon (Case 2021-0083, p15-17):
Scottish Sea Farms is no stranger to not reporting information. The Ferret reported last month (5 December 2021):
Scottish Sea Farms has been sent two final warning letters by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency for under-reporting the use of chemicals to kill the lice that can plague caged salmon. #FOIhttps://t.co/5UPSt7BMcp
— The Ferret (@FerretScot) December 5, 2021
Another Scottish Government inspection in May 2021 of a salmon farm operated by Scottish Sea Farms at Shuna in Loch Linnhe detailed wild wrasse from the West coast of Scotland and lumpsuckers imported from the Republic of Ireland (ROI) in 2020. Cleaner fish were stocked at over 10% with 71,261 salmon and 7,688 lumpfish and 3,837 wrasse (Case 2021-0078, p1-3):
Scottish Salmon Watch today (1 February 2022) wrote to Scottish Ministers asking why Scottish Sea Farms does not appear in the trade data for imports disclosed by the Scottish Government earlier this month. When Scottish Salmon Watch visited Shuna in July 2019 we were wrongly warned off by Police Scotland who claimed the public needed permission to be in public waters!
In October 2020, Police Scotland issued a landmark apology to Scottish Salmon Watch:
Landmark Victory for Surveillance of Salmon Farms - Police Scotland apologises for wrongly protecting @scotseafarms from public access for filming & diving https://t.co/FJN8LmAX2w @policescotland pic.twitter.com/kU4IKfmGA5
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 15, 2020
'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate for an inspection in April 2021 details wrasse “left over from last cycle, with risk assessment” and a “new input of lumpfish for current stock” at Mowi's Kingairloch salmon farm. Cleaner fish stocking was over 10% with 238,000 salmon; 24,805 lumpfish and 5,926 mixed wild wrasse (Cases 2021-0058, p1-3). Mortality records detailed 3,594 lumpfish morts since input with “increased mortality due to freshwater treatments” and the note that the farm “try to remove cleaner fish prior to treatments” (freshwater and mechanical treatments can kill cleaner fish).
Scottish Salmon Watch's letter to Scottish Ministers sent today (1 February 2022) includes a FOI request for data on mortalities and photos of cleaner fish on salmon farms. A FOI disclosure by the Scottish Government in January 2018 included:
In February 2021, the Marine Conservation Society published a report the use of cleaner fish in salmon farming:
The report summary included:
The report included:
The welfare of cleaner fish is a serious problem that the salmon farming sector is struggling with. Scottish Salmon Watch reported in July 2021:
Cleaner Fish - Dead in the Water at Lice-Infested @rspcaassured Mowi Scotland! https://t.co/ixqUarQb2I @MowiScotlandLtd @SRey_Planellas @fishfarmermag @scotseafarms @csar_ace @onekindtweet @APHAgovuk @SSPCA_Kirsteen #Boycott #Dirty #LiceInfested #Scottish #Salmon pic.twitter.com/ih9h9TdVTX
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 27, 2021
Fish Farmer reported (27 July 2021):
The Ferret reported in December 2018:
Open Seas reported back in October 2017:
Mass mortalities and welfare abuse of cleaner fish does not just happen on Scottish salmon farms. Here's gruesome footage from inside a salmon farm in Iceland:
A quick dip of the GoPro in a salmon feedlot - by Against The Current Iceland.
— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) August 13, 2021
Look familiar?
Note lice infested, diseased lumpfish. It’s not just salmon that are dying in these cages.@SSPOsays @MairiMcAllan @_KateForbes @HamishMacdonell pic.twitter.com/9lmr643fXs
Scottish Ministers should heed the warning in of a recent report - "Towards a sustainable fishery and use of cleaner fish in salmonid aquaculture: challenges and opportunities" - published in December 2021 by the Nordic Council of Ministers:
"There are extensive fisheries for wrasses, and aquaculture of ballan wrasse and lumpfish," states the Nordic Council of Ministers report. "Fisheries and use have evolved fast, but the development of a regulatory framework has lagged behind. Challenges linked to poor welfare, diseases and changes in the genetic structure have raised questions on the sustainability of the current practice, and The Norwegian Food Safety Authorities stated that if the welfare is not improved and the effect of cleaner fish better documented, the use can be reduced or terminated."
Scamon Scotland's letter to Scottish Ministers sent today (1 February 2022) echoes the recommendations of the Nordic Council of Ministers report in calling for better documentation and reporting on cleaner fish mortalities.
Read more via:
Press Release: "EXPOSED: Salmon Scotland's Dirty Trade in Cleaner Fish"
Cleaner Fish - Dead in the Water at Lice-Infested Mowi Scotland!
Towards a sustainable fishery and use of cleaner fish in salmonid aquaculture
Use of Cleaner Fish in UK Aquaculture
Why We Care About Cleaner Fish
Cleaner fish in aquaculture: review on diseases and vaccination
Tests show lumpsuckers can infect salmon with AGD
The Ferret: "Fish that eat lice off farmed salmon suffer, says report"
Sunday Times: "Scots salmon farmers ‘put English waters under threat’"
Sunday Times: "‘Clean fish’ bring danger of disease to salmon farms"
Use of lumpfish for sea-lice control in salmon farming: challenges and opportunities
Cleaner fish in aquaculture - EURL Fish
Disease forces cull of 10,000 “cleaner” fish
Scottish Ministers must establish a public register of shipments of cleaner fish; report monthly mortalities & test for infectious diseases on salmon farms https://t.co/faHC5W6D8n
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 1, 2022
Scottish salmon’s dirty trade in cleaner fish must stop now! @ScotlandSalmon @scotgov @scotgp pic.twitter.com/gxGAumIsgP