Here's a press release and media backgrounder (4 December 2022):
“Scottish salmon is a drug addict & should check itself into rehab immediately. Salmon pharming’s desperate addiction to antibiotics is bringing the whole farming sector into disrepute" https://t.co/hL9hzCD33d @vmdgovuk @ScotlandSalmon @ScottishEPA @TavishScott #Antibiotics pic.twitter.com/7YPbxtDju0
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 4, 2022
A damning new report - 'UK Veterinary Antibiotic Resistance and Sales Surveillance Report' - slipped out by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate last month exposes the salmon farming industry's shocking addiction to antibiotics - and shows how the use of antibiotics in Scotland has leapt from 1 tonne in 2018 to 8.9 tonnes in 2021 (an increase of 790%).
REVEALED: Antibiotic use on salmon farms in Scotland has increased 9-fold since 2018 - leaping from 1 tonne (mostly Oxytetracycline) to 8.9 tonnes! Please boycott Scottish salmon @MowiScotlandLtd @CookeScotland @sainsburys @asda @Tesco @waitrose @rspcaassured @ScotlandSalmon pic.twitter.com/ilAiEue4S7
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 4, 2022
Here's the front cover of the 'Highlights' of the VARSS report published in November 2022 (notice the graph showing falling use of antibiotics with pictures of a cow, pig and a sheep - but no salmon):
Look inside the VARSS 2021 'Highlights' which compares diffirent animal species and the true horrors of salmon farming in Scotland becomes all too apparent (focus on the left hand column and you'll see that salmon is the only farming sector where antibiotics are increasing - so much so that salmon is now second to only pigs in 2021 usage of antibiotics):
REVEALED: Farmed salmon is the only farming sector where the use of antibiotics has increased over the last five years @vmdgovuk @RUMA_UK @ScotlandSalmon
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 5, 2022
Please boycott Scottish salmon this Xmas - just say no to drugs! @rspcaassured @ASC_aqua @sainsburys @Tesco @asda @LidlGB pic.twitter.com/W6truEJNhx
To put this into perspective, back in 2017 the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) identified 5mg/kg as a target (i.e. instead of meeting the target, salmon farming is now using over 8 times more antibiotics!):
The full 128-page VARSS 2021 report published on 8 November 2022 details more on the alarming rise in antibiotics by the salmon pharming sector - with a staggering 8.9 tonnes of antibiotics used by salmon farms in 2021 representing 43.1 mg/kg:
The VARSS 2021 report published on 8 November 2022 showcases the overall decline in antibiotic use across the farming sector:
However, whilst other farming sectors have been successful in meeting targetted reductions in antibiotic use, the salmon farming sector has failed spectacularly. Here's the graph for salmon:
And here's the graphs for pigs and cattle:
And here's the graph for trout (which remains way below the 20 mg/kg target identified by RUMA in 2017 - at 5.9 mg/kg in 2021 which is ca. 8 times less than salmon):
Here is the VARSS statement from Salmon Scotland in response to the damning data on increasing antibiotic use on salmon farms:
So whilst the foreward of the VARSS 2021 report published on 8 November 2022 refers to the "dramatic reductions" in antibiotic use it has been achieved in the face of dramatic increases by the salmon pharming sector:
The 2022 FAO report - "Tackling antimicrobial use and resistance in food-producing animals: Lessons learned in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" - cited in the VARSS 2021 foreward includes reference to the 5mg/kg target in salmon identified by RUMA in 2017 (but failed to mention the fact that antibiotic use on salmon farms was over 8 times more than the target in 2021!):
A look back at previous VARSS reports illustrates how the salmon pharming sector's drug addiction has spiralled out of control. It appears that 2017 was the first time antibiotic use data was recorded for the salmon farming sector - with 17 mg/kg antibiotic usage reported (UK-VARSS 2017 PowerPoint Set) and a total use of 3 tonnes of antibiotics used by salmon farming in 2017:
The 2017 VARSS report reported that Oxytetracyline was the most widely used antibiotic (86%) but there was also use of Florfenicol, Oxolinic acid and Amoxicillin:
The VARSS 2018 report shows a dramatic decline in antibiotic use on salmon farms - with 1 tonne of antibiotics used representing 6.5 mg/kg (a fall of 60%):
The Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (renamed Salmon Scotland in 2021) was keen in the VARSS 2018 report to stress that the salmon farming industry was now "close to the ambitious target to keep usage in the salmon industry below 5 mg/kg" (notice how the use of Florfenicol - in % terms - increased compared to Oxytetracyline and the use of Amoxicillin stopped completely):
The VARSS 2019 report showed a dramatic increase in the use of antibiotics by salmon farms - almost back to 2017 levels at 2.8 tonnes representing 13.5 mg/kg:
The 2020 VARSS report showed how the antibiotic use on salmon farms leapt up to 5.6 tonnes representing 29.3 mg/kg (up from 1 tonne in 2018 representing 6.5 mg/kg) and now nearly six times higher than the 5 mg/kg target set by RUMA:
Notice how the reaction from the salmon farming industry to the VARSS 2020 report now omitted reference to the 5 mg/kg target set by RUMA:
Another report published by the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) in November 2022 (timed to coincide with the VARSS report) downplays how the salmon pharming industry in Scotland is using more and more antibiotics despite concerted attempts across the UK farming sector to reduce antibiotic use:
Whilst antibiotic use on salmon farms is increasing to record levels, the RUMA report (November 2022) shows that the trout farming sector has significant reductions in the use of antibiotics:
In other words:
The RUMA 'Targets Task Force 2' was set up in 2019 with "new targets" launched in November 2020 which run from 2021 to 2024 - Salmon Scotland (formerly the SSPO) is represented by Iain Berrill:
Fish Farming Expert spun the November 2022 RUMA report as positively as they could in an article published on 8 November 2022:
The new VARSS data confirms shocking information on rising antibiotic use on salmon farms in Scotland obtained via Freedom of Information from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency earlier this year. The Ferret and Sunday National reported in February 2022:
Antibiotics given to caged salmon to combat diseases at over 50 farms around Argyll, the highlands and islands have risen from 147 kilograms in 2016 to 7,476 kilograms in 2021. https://t.co/adsjFAdW5Y
— The Ferret (@FerretScot) February 27, 2022
"Fundamentally, anyone who confines a sea-going animal in a cage, treats them with chemicals, causes them stress through various procedures and interventions, has lost the caring argument" https://t.co/5QukVYdbwD @ScotlandSalmon @MowiScotlandLtd @ciwf @onekindtweet @peta
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 7, 2022
$camon $cotland reported in February 2022:
"Scottish salmon is a hopeless drug addict that surely belongs on the floor with the Trainspotting junkies not welcomed into your kitchen & served as ‘healthy’ food. Norwegian giant Mowi should check itself into rehab to curb their drug dependency" https://t.co/T3qavQYEUR pic.twitter.com/irjTlZ6EFq
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 27, 2022
Salmon pharms in Scotland used 7,476 kg of antibiotics (Florfenicol & Oxytetracycline) in 2021 - that's a shocking 51-fold increase since 2016 according to a FOI disclosure! @ScottishEPA https://t.co/T3qavQYEUR
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 28, 2022
Please boycott Scottish pharmed salmon! @sainsburys @Tesco @AldiUK pic.twitter.com/O9hhgLpUbk
The use of antibiotics in freshwater salmon farming - in hatcheries and smolt farms in lochs - is shamefully not captured by SEPA or published on a site by site basis. However, 'Case Information' published by the Scottish Government reveals the use of antibiotics at freshwater hatcheries and salmon farms across Scotland. Here's a Fish Health Inspectorate report for Millburn Salmon Hatchery in Shetland in September 2022:
Here's 'Case Information' published by the Fish Health Inspectorate relating to an inspection of Mowi's ASC-certified and RSPCA Assured salmon farm at Ardgour in Loch Linnhe in May 2022 - including gruesome photos - including reports of the use of both Florfenicol (Florocol) and Oxytetracycline (Aquatet):
A Scottish Government inspection report dated 16 June 2022 cited antibiotic resistance at Mowi's Linnhe salmon farm:
This Fish Health Inspectorate report in March 2022 for Mowi's ASC-certified and RSPCA Assured salmon farm at Ardgour in Loch Linnhe details the use of the antibiotic Florfenicol (Florocol) to treat Furunculosis in cleaner fish (wrasse):
Another Fish Health Inspectorate report in February 2022 alludes to mis-reporting of antibiotics at Mowi's RSPCA Assured Seaforth salmon farm (a farm not awarded ASC certification in November 2022):
A Fish Health Inspectorate report in February 2022 for Mowi's ASC-certified and RSPCA Assured Ardintoul salmon farm in Loch Alsh detailed the use of Oxytetracycline to treat Salmon Rickettsial Syndrome:
Another Fish Health Inspectorate report for January 2022 at Mowi's Ardintoul salmon farm in Loch Alsh refers to the use of Oxytetracyline on farmed salmon and Florfenicol on cleaner fish (wrasse and lumpfish):
A Fish Health Inspectorate report in February 2022 for Mowi's RSPCA Assured salmon farm in Loch Greshornish detailed the use of Florfenicol (Florocol) to treat Pasteurella skyensis:
A Fish Health Inspectorate report for Mowi's RSPCA Assured Seaforth salmon farm in January 2022 detailed the use of both Florocol and Oxytetracycline:
Data published by the Scottish Government on 1 November 2022 also cites antibiotic use in over 50 'Mortality Event Reports' (dominated by Mowi) - including:
Mowi's extensive use of antibiotics is matched by an extensive policy on antibiotic use published in June 2022:
$camon $cotland reported in February 2022:
Mowi's drug addiction is in the class of Amy Winehouse! "They tried to make me go to Rehab, But I said no, no, no" @MowiScotlandLtd @ScotlandSalmon @Folketrygdfond @ScottishEPA @vmdgovuk
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 28, 2022
Boycott pharmed salmon! https://t.co/ZkLRz68zys pic.twitter.com/6zWdkYxB2y
"Scottish salmon is a hopeless drug addict that surely belongs on the floor with the Trainspotting junkies not welcomed into your kitchen & served as ‘healthy’ food. Norwegian giant Mowi should check itself into rehab to curb their drug dependency" https://t.co/T3qavQYEUR pic.twitter.com/irjTlZ6EFq
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 27, 2022
Scottish Salmon Watch reported in January 2022:
Certification of @MowiScotlandLtd salmon farms has been cancelled @ASC_aqua "Carradale was cancelled due to an escape event; Cairidh due to administrative reasons; Maol Ban & Sconser Quarry because they were projected to exceed the permitted antibiotic treatments number" pic.twitter.com/byKk6EYukC
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 6, 2022
The irresponsible use of antibiotics is happening not just in Scotland but also in Tasmania. The Guardian reported last month (14 November 2022):
can we expect to see EPA fines for a polluting industry? Or is this considered business as usual? Please head to the original article at the Guardian and support the publication of relevant Environmental reporting. https://t.co/xj3scQkUMi 3/3 #politas #tasmaniansalmon
— Neighbours of Fish Farming (@NOFF_Tasmania) November 20, 2022
The Tasmanian Inquirer reported (14 November 2022):
Read more via:
Sunday Times: "Fish farms scrutinised as antibiotic use soars"
Drug Addict Alert: Scottish Salmon's Fifty-Fold Increase in Antibiotics Since 2016!
The Ferret/Sunday National: "Use of Drugs At Fish Farms Rises 50 Times in Six Years"
Media Backgrounder: "Mowi's Increasing Disease Problems Drives Increases in Antibiotic Use"
Toxic Scottish Salmon - Chemical Use Doubles Since 2018!
"Antibiotics use in Scottish farmed salmon doubles" (The Fish Site)
Antibiotic-ridden Scottish salmon