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11/14/2022

Bakkafrost is Dead in Water in Scotland - "Explosive" FOI Disclosure Lifts Lid on Hazardous Scottish Salmon!

 

 

 

Here's a media backgrounder issued by $camon $cotland (14 November 2022) - including:

 

Media Backgrounder Bakkafrost Dead in Water 14 November 2022 #1

 

 

 

Media Backgrounder Bakkafrost Dead in Water 14 November 2022 #2

 

Media Backgrounder Bakkafrost Dead in Water 14 November 2022 #3

 



 

Media Backgrounder Bakkafrost Dead in Water 14 November 2022 #4

Media Backgrounder Bakkafrost Dead in Water 14 November 2022 #5

Media Backgrounder Bakkafrost Dead in Water 14 November 2022 #6



Media Backgrounder Bakkafrost Dead in Water 14 November 2022 #7

 

Media Backgrounder Bakkafrost Dead in Water 14 November 2022 #8

 

Media Backgrounder Bakkafrost Dead in Water 14 November 2022 #10

 

 

Media Backgrounder Bakkafrost Dead in Water 14 November 2022 #11

 

Media Backgrounder Bakkafrost Dead in Water 14 November 2022 #12

 

 

 

 

Media Backgrounder Bakkafrost Dead in Water 14 November 2022 #9

Media Backgrounder Bakkafrost Dead in Water 14 November 2022 #13

Media Backgrounder Bakkafrost Dead in Water 14 November 2022 #14

 

 

 

Read the media backgrounder in full online here

 

 

 

 

 

Read more via:

Document dump by Scottish Government following FOI review: floodgates opened on "explosive" salmon barge off Portree!

Bakkafrost's Scottish Salmon Nightmare Gets Worse with 10,000 Tonne Black Hole in Scotland!

"Explosive" FOI disclosure from SEPA on Toxic Gases Spewing from The Scottish Salmon Company (Bakkafrost) Off Portree!

Toxic Salmon Barge Salvaged This Month Off Portree (as revealed by FOI disclosure by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency)

500m exclusion zone near Portree Harbour in Skye as barge gives of rotten eggs smell

P&J: "Exclusion zone set up around Skye barge giving off rotten eggs smell"

"Experts tackle lethal gas leaking from sunken feed barge" (Fish Farming Expert)

BBC News: "'Rotten egg' gas leaking from fish feed barge wreck - 500m exclusion zone placed near Portree on Skye"

Toxic Gasses Spew From The Scottish Salmon Company (Bakkafrost Scotland) Off Portree

 

 

 

 

 

Here's drone footage of the Portree salmon farms shot in August 2022 with the 24 hour guard boat patrolling the exclusion zone around the site:

 

 

 

 

Map #2

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch visited the salmon farms off Portree (Loch Portree/Torvaig and Outer Portree) in November 2019 - with the feed barge visible (it was only launched in September 2018):

 

 

 

 

 

ADDENDUM:

 

From: Briggs Marine <enquiries@briggsmarine.com>
Date: Mon, Nov 14, 2022 at 9:46 AM
Subject: Re: FOI documents on Portree feed barge
To: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>

Erica Skoukine (Briggs Marine)

14 Nov 2022, 09:46 GMT

Hi Don,
 
Briggs Marine was awarded a contract by Bakkafrost Scotland to salvage the sunken feed barge and its cargo.  Following the discovery of significant levels of hydrogen sulphide within the wreck, all appropriate precautionary and safety measures have been taken in close consultation with the relevant local authorities and stakeholders.  Following a payment dispute with Bakkafrost, Briggs have demobilised from the site and legal proceedings have commenced.
 
Further to our above statement, as we are currently in dispute with Bakkafrost, we do not feel it appropriate to comment at this time.
 
Kind regards
Erica

 

 

 

 

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Nov 14, 2022 at 7:39 AM
Subject: "Explosive" Hydrogen Sulphide risk from sunken barge off Portree
To: Ruraidh.Stewart.cllr@highland.gov.uk; calum.munro.cllr@highland.gov.uk; Drew.Millar.cllr@highland.gov.uk; john.finlayson.cllr@highland.gov.uk
 
Were you aware of the "explosive" risk to public health from a feed barge off Portree?
 
A FOI disclosure by the Scottish Government on Friday (11 November) detailed various emails - including to Highland councillors - regarding the risk of "explosion" including Highland Council offices in Portree being used as an 'emergency response centre' and Portree High School as a 'rest centre' should toxic gases come onshore:
 
 
The documents above raise serious questions re. the lack of public warning - to walkers along the coastal path near the salmon farm, divers, swimmers, kayakers, boats and tourists (including 'The World' cruise liner which visited Portree during the height of the "explosion" risk).  
 
Tweets via:
 
 
What actions did you take to notify your constituents of the "explosive" risk to public health?
 
It beggars belief that Highland Council issued no public warning in August (they were notified on 12 August of toxic gases at 55,000 ppm - that's in the "explosive range"). 
 
Yet on 2 September, Highland Council issued a 'media reassurance' following public concerns from Portree residents after a BBC News story on 30 August ($camon $scotland broke the story earlier that morning following a tip-off from Portree). 
 
$camon $cotland understands that the barge still needs to be salvaged (see email below to Portree Harbour Master).  An update would be much appreciated.
 
Thanks,
 
 
Don Staniford
 
$camon $cotland
 
 

 

 

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Nov 14, 2022 at 6:59 AM
Subject: Salvage off Portree on Isle of Skye?
To: <operations@marinemasters.nl>, <h.smith@marinemasters.nl>, <d.spaans@marinemasters.nl>
 
Do you have an update on the salvage operation of a Bakkafrost feed barge off Portree on the Isle of Skye?
 
$camon $cotland has just published documents obtained via Freedom of Information from the Scottish Government: Bakkafrost is Dead in Water in Scotland - "Explosive" FOI Disclosure Lifts Lid on Hazardous Scottish Salmon!
 
FOI documents obtained earlier this month from SEPA also included a Marine Masters gas purging report: Email 3_Salmon Feeder Barge Gas Purging_Attachment
 
 
Do you have an update on the current situation?
 
Will the salvage be completed before 25 November?  I understand that Bakkafrost have 12 months from the sinking on 26 November 2021 to salvage the barge or they need to apply for a licence.
 
Do you know how much the salvage operation will cost?
 
A feed barge salvaged in Loch Dunvegan off the Isle of Skye last year (it sank in 2017) cost Grieg Seafood close to £1 million (£921,000): https://www.fishfarmingexpert.com/feed-barge-grieg-seafood-shetland-ocean-kinetics/sunken-feed-barge-brought-back-from-the-deep/1378938
 
The FOI disclosure also refers to legal action between Briggs Marine and Bakkafrost - with Briggs Marine informing $camon $cotland last week that "our departure was due to a commercial dispute regarding payment". 
 
Is Marine Masters encountering any payment problems with Bakkafrost who are haemorrhaging money in Scotland?
 
 
Any information you could provide would be much appreciated.
 
 
 
Don Staniford
 
$camon $cotland
 
 
 

 

 

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Nov 14, 2022 at 5:40 AM
Subject: "Explosive" Hydrogen Sulphide risk from sunken barge off Portree
To: <Sergejs.Vozmitels@highland.gov.uk>
 
As Portree Harbour Master, could you please provide an update on the latest situation with respect to Bakkafrost's sunken feed barge off Portree?
 
Is an exclusion zone still in place?
 
Did you issue any public warnings when toxic Hydrogen Sulphide gases at 55,000 ppm - within the "explosive range" - were reported in August?
 
I understand that a 'Notice to Mariners' was issued on 5 August re. the salvage operation taking place but I cannot find any 'Notice to Mariners' or any warning to the public re. the "explosive" gases.  
 
Background information - sourced via a FOI disclosure from the Scottish Government - is online via: Bakkafrost is Dead in Water in Scotland - "Explosive" FOI Disclosure Lifts Lid on Hazardous Scottish Salmon!
 
Any information you have on this public safety issue would be much appreciated.
 
Thanks,
 
 
Don Staniford
 
$camon $cotland
 
 
 

 
 
 
From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Nov 14, 2022 at 5:30 AM
Subject: Bakkafrost's "explosive" problem in Scotland
To: <folketrygdfondet@ftf.no>, <marika.burvald@ftf.no>, <postmottak@nfd.dep.no>, <nils.bastiansen@ftf.no>
 
As the largest shareholder in Bakkafrost has the Norwegian Government been officially notified of Bakkafrost's deepening problems in Scotland?
 
A Freedom of Information disclosure on Friday (11 November 2022) by the Scottish Government raises serious alarm bells: Bakkafrost is Dead in Water in Scotland - "Explosive" FOI Disclosure Lifts Lid on Hazardous Scottish Salmon!
 
This follows in the wake of Bakkafrost's worsening mortality problems in Scotland - referred to in Bakkafrost's 2021 Annual Report as a "deadly cocktail":
 
 
Please see below for correspondence with Bakkafrost.
 
Almost two years ago, Scottish Salmon Watch (since renamed $camon $cotland) wrote to you demanding divestment in salmon unethical and irresponsible salmon farming companies in Scotland:
 
 
 
Far from improving, the situation is clearly getting worse.  How can the Norwegian Government support the 'King of Death'?
 
Media Backgrounder Year of the Dead Salmon September 2022 #7
 
Takk,
 
Don Staniford
 
$camon $cotland
 
 
 
 
From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Nov 14, 2022 at 5:09 AM
Subject: Re: Toxic Gasses at Bakkafrost Scotland?
To: <toda@bakkafrost.com>, <sasi@bakkafrost.com>, <ruw@havsbrun.fo>, <reja@bakkafrost.com>
Cc: <dougie.macleod@scottishsalmon.com>
 
Further to $camon Scotland's email of 30 August 2022 (still unanswered), could you please provide an update on the state of the salvage operation off Portree including any public/environmental risks arising from leaking toxic gases?
 
When will Bakkafrost be reporting the financial costs of the salvage operation to the Oslo stock exchange (I understand there are disclosure rules under the Norwegian Securities Trading Act) and Bakkafrost shareholders (the largest being the Norwegian Government as represented by Folketrygdfondet)?
 
Documents obtained via FOI detail the "explosive" nature of Bakkafrost's feed barge, the public risks from explosion (Hydrogen Sulphide toxic gases were found in August at 55,000 ppm - levels within the "explosive range") and legal action between Bakkafrost and Briggs Marine (which presumably adds to the costs):
 
 
An update would be much appreciated.
 
Thanks,
 
Don Staniford
 
$camon $cotland
 
 

 
 
 
From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Aug 30, 2022 at 12:52 PM
Subject: Toxic Gasses at Bakkafrost Scotland?
To: <toda@bakkafrost.com>, <sasi@bakkafrost.com>, <ruw@havsbrun.fo>, <reja@bakkafrost.com>
Cc: <dougie.macleod@scottishsalmon.com>


Can Bakkafrost please comment publicly on the toxic gasses spewing from a sunken feed barge off Portree on the Isle of Skye?
 
 
The salvage operation for the sunken feed barge was notified to various agencies earlier this month via The Scottish Salmon Company: http://whamassoc.org.uk/bundles/app/downloads/62f14a6b8b2b9_SSC_Notice%20to%20Mariners_Portree.pdf
 
Bakkafrost email Aug 2022
 
 
I was just searching Bakkafrost's financial reports: https://www.bakkafrost.com/en/investor-relations/
 
 
Where is the sunken feed barge incident cited in Bakkafrost quarterly reports?  
 
Grieg Seafood, for example, reported losses due to a sunken feed barge on the Isle of Skye in 2018 to shareholders and investors: https://www.fishfarmingexpert.com/grieg-grieg-shetland-salmon/feed-barge-sinking-scuppers-grieg-shetlands-q1-profits/1256638
 
 
Surely Bakkafrost has a duty to report such losses to shareholders and stock exchange?
 
Thanks,
 
 
Don Staniford
 
Director, $camon $cotland
 
 
 

 
 

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