Quiz Question: Which factory feedlot certified as 'welfare friendly' @rspcaassured & 'responsible' @ASC_aqua are these farmed salmon beauties sourced from?
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 23, 2023
Clue: it's the loch where ISA originated & lends its name to Scotland's largest mountain https://t.co/r6jks43x38 #Nevis pic.twitter.com/KOYDgfdMxa
The shameless greenwashing of Scottish salmon by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council - dubbed the Abominable Salmon Council - is laid bare in 'Case Information' published last week (16 January 2023) by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate.
The Fish Health Inspectorate case report (2022-0532) for Nevis A salmon farm operated by Scottish Sea Farms in Loch Nevis details 200,000 mortalities, infectious diseases and lice infestation at the RSPCA Assured site (including gruesome photos taken by Scottish Government inspectors during an inspection visit on 26 October 2022).
Photo Exclusive: @rspcaassured Scottish salmon from @marksandspencer supplier @scotseafarms - freshly certified as 'responsible' @ASC_aqua
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 24, 2023
Inspection report @marinescotland details Heart & Skeletal Muscle Inflammation (Piscine Reovirus), Epitheliocystis & Salmon Gill Poxvirus pic.twitter.com/QsfoavGhNM
Just last week, the ASC certified three salmon farms in Loch Nevis (A, B & C) as 'responsible':
The Fish Health Inspectorate case report (2022-0532) for Nevis A salmon farm in Loch Nevis (the infamous loch where Infectious Salmon Anaemia reared its ugly head in the 1990s causing £100 million+ in damage with millions of farmed salmon killed) details shocking levels of lice infestation and disease with one fish (F5) infested with 35 lice:
The Fish Health Inspectorate case report (2022-0532) includes a Fish Health Inspectorate Visit Report dated 23 November 2022 - detailing Aeromonas salmoncida (Furunculosis), Salmon Gill Poxvirus, Neoparamoeba perurans (AGD), Paranculeospora theridion, Epitheliocystis and other disease issues at the now ASC-certified Nevis A salmon farm:
Do these photos taken by Scottish Government fish health inspectors during the visit in October 2022 to Scottish Sea Farms show 'responsible' salmon farming in any shape or form?
This Scottish salmon farmed by @marksandspencer supplier @scotseafarms is infested with 35 lice, Poxvirus, Heart & Skeletal Muscle Inflammation, Epitheliocystis & Amoebic Gill Disease. How can @rspcaassured & @ASC_aqua market this cruelty as "responsible"? @ScotlandSalmon pic.twitter.com/Zrnt3v16bA
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 24, 2023
The Fish Health Inspectorate case report (2022-0532) for Nevis A salmon farm operated by Scottish Sea Farms (exclusive supplier to M&S) details over 200,000 mortalities at the site during 2022 as well as the use of toxic Hydrogen Peroxide:
Here's correspondence with the Abominable Salmon Council citing the Scottish Government Fish Health Inspectorate 'Case Information' and mortality data published by Salmon Scotland:
From: Dignan, Sam <Sam.Dignan@lrqa.com>
Date: Tue, Jan 24, 2023 at 5:37 PM
Subject: RE: Named & Shamed: Scotland's Most Deadly Salmon Farms in 2022!
To: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Cc: LRQA ASC <asc-ca@lrqa.com>, info@asc-aqua.org <info@asc-aqua.org>, chris.ninnes@asc-aqua.org <chris.ninnes@asc-aqua.org>, Bertrand.Charron@asc-aqua.org <Bertrand.Charron@asc-aqua.org>, certification@asc-aqua.org <certification@asc-aqua.org>
Hi Don,
I would like to respond with 2 points below:
- Clarification of ASC processes
I think it would be useful to explain a little bit more the separation of powers within the ASC programme so that your comments can be directed where they are best placed.
Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC):
The ASC is the programme owner. It is they who define the requirements that a farm must meet to be allowed to make the claim that their products are the result of "Responsible Aquaculture Farming". The various ASC Standards can therefore be thought of as the ASC’s definition of "Responsible Aquaculture Farming". It is important to remember that this is just the ASC’s definition and that it may well be at odds with what others believe "Responsible Aquaculture Farming"—or you may believe that there is no such thing.
The ASC also defines the processes that must be followed by CABs (see below) in conducting ASC audits.
Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) (including LRQA):
Within the ASC programme, CABs such as LRQA, represented by their audit teams, apply the ASC’s defined processes and standards as written. It is important to note that CABs play no role in defining ASC requirements, so arguments as to their merits (or not) are best directed to ASC.
It is the audit team acting on behalf of the CAB who score operations against ASC standard indicators. The ultimate decision as to whether an auditee sufficiently complies with relevant ASC requirements to be certified is also made by the CAB. It is not a CABs’ place to make any commentary beyond whether an auditee complies (or not) with ASC requirements.
Based on the above, any comments about the ‘bar’ set by ASC should be directed to ASC while any comments as to a specific ASC’s site’s compliance with that ‘bar’ should be directed to the CAB. As a CAB, we at LRQA are unable to exceed our remit within the programme so, for example, where events occur that you believe should lead to revocation of ASC certification but where it is not expressly required by ASC, we would not do so.
As I mentioned in my earlier email, there are proper avenues for stakeholders to engage with ASC audits. If you choose not to engage in those avenues for whatever reason, we will still of course still consider the substance of any submissions, but your input will be less impactful. Whatever you decide, you can request at any time to be added as a stakeholder in an upcoming audit.
- Mass mortalities at Nevis sites
Regarding the specific issue of mass mortalities on salmon farms, the relevant ASC criteria in the latest version of their Salmon Standard (v1.4) include inter alia that (emphasis added):
– 100% of dead fish are removed and disposed of in a responsible manner (§5.1.3).
– 100% of mortalities events are recorded, classified and that a statistically relevant number of fish from the event are analysed (§5.4.1)
– The maximum viral disease-related mortality during the most recent production cycle must be ≤10% (§5.1.5).
– The maximum unexplained mortality rate from each of the previous two production cycles, for farms with total mortality >6% must be ≤40% of total mortalities (§5.1.6).
– The farm have in place a mortalities reduction programme that includes defined annual targets for reductions in mortalities and reductions in unexplained mortalities (§5.1.7).
It is also true that audits by their nature represent ‘snap shots’ where the Nevis audit was carried out in June and the FHI report is dated October. An ASC certification cycle consists of an Initial audit and 2 annual surveillance audits where events that occur ‘out of cycle’ (i.e. in the period between audits) are generally considered at the next audit in the cycle.
Nevertheless, we will analyse the Nevis example provided in the context of relevant ASC requirements but, if no ASC requirements are explicitly contradicted, we will not take further action of the kind you might wish to see.
Kind regards,
Sam
Sam Dignan
Aquaculture & Fisheries Manager
LRQA, Office 79 (Pure Offices), 4-5 Lochside Way. Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh, EH12 9DT
Visit www.lrqa.com or follow us on LinkedIn | Twitter
From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 11:39 AM
Subject: Re: Named & Shamed: Scotland's Most Deadly Salmon Farms in 2022!
To: Dignan, Sam <Sam.Dignan@lrqa.com>
Cc: LRQA ASC <asc-ca@lrqa.com>, info@asc-aqua.org <info@asc-aqua.org>, chris.ninnes@asc-aqua.org <chris.ninnes@asc-aqua.org>, Bertrand.Charron@asc-aqua.org <Bertrand.Charron@asc-aqua.org>, certification@asc-aqua.org <certification@asc-aqua.org>
For example, in a new FHI report published on 16 January 2023 you can see 'Case Information' for Scottish Sea Farms in Loch Nevis:
The same day the ASC certified three salmon farms in Loch Nevis: https://www.asc-aqua.org/find-a-farm/ASC01990/
Salmon Scotland's mortality data for ASC-certified Loch Nevis is picked out via:
74% Mortality Reported by RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms (Supplier to M&S) in Loch Nevis!
Shame on the ASC for greenwashing Loch Nevis salmon farms as 'responsible'.
Best fishes,
Don
On Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 11:24 AM Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com> wrote:
Put simply, there is no right way to do the wrong thing.
$camon $cotland (and Scottish Salmon Watch and GAAIA before that) has chosen strategically not to participate formally in the ASC's flawed process of public consultation.
Giving the ASC any form of legitimacy is a huge mistake.
That said, if there is any relevant information in any of the blogs, letters and press releases issued by $camon $cotland (mostly sourced from public domain sources and FOI) then I sincerely hope that the ASC takes relevant action.
For example, the mortality data detailed in Salmon Scotland's published monthly reports surely demands ASC action:
https://www.salmonscotland.co.uk/sites/default/files/2022-12/november_2022_1.pdf
https://www.salmonscotland.co.uk/sites/default/files/2022-11/october_2022.pdf
https://www.salmonscotland.co.uk/sites/default/files/2022-11/september_2022.pdf
Similarly, the 'Mortality Event Reports' and 'Case Information' published regularly by the Scottish Government demands action:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/fish-health-inspectorate-mortality-information/
https://www.gov.scot/collections/publication-of-fish-health-inspectorate-information/
Best fishes,
Don
On Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 10:51 AM Dignan, Sam <Sam.Dignan@lrqa.com> wrote:
Hi Don,
While we appreciate your comments, we have a few requests that would render them more useful, focussed and hence actionable.
As an engaged stakeholder, you will know that ASC audits allow for stakeholder participation during the site visit portion of audits. Additionally, initial and re-certification audits—but not surveillance audits—include a specific public comment period during which stakeholders are invited to comment on the contents of draft reports.
I believe that we have informed you of this previously, but you do have the option of being registered as a stakeholder for ASC audits in Scotland. Once added to our contact lists, you will receive notification on upcoming audits, comments periods etc. Would you like us to add you as a stakeholder for Scottish salmon audits?
In general, in order for your comments to be actionable, please be specific about the certification scheme and certified site that they relate to. Additionally, stakeholder input is most useful when it is attributed to specific criteria of a relevant ASC Standard or Process. Objective verifiable evidence or references should be provided in support of any claims.
Overall, it would be best if you could engage with individual audits rather than periodically sending more general commentary. That way, as long as you don’t wish them to remain confidential, your comments will be consider during specific audits and included and responded to in subsequent audit reports.
Kind regards,
Sam
Sam Dignan
Aquaculture & Fisheries Manager
From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Sent: 20 January 2023 09:05
To: Info <info@asc-aqua.org>; Chris Ninnes <chris.ninnes@asc-aqua.org>; Bertrand Charron <Bertrand.Charron@asc-aqua.org>; Certification <certification@asc-aqua.org>; LRQA ASC <asc-ca@lrqa.com>; asc-ca@lr.org
Subject: Named & Shamed: Scotland's Most Deadly Salmon Farms in 2022!
Here's a new blog ranking Scotland's most deadly salmon farms (as sourced from mortality data published by the Scottish Government on 9 January 2023):
Access the Scottish Government data via https://www.gov.scot/publications/fish-health-inspectorate-mortality-information/
More background on why the 15 million figure quoted in The Observer, The Scotsman, The Daily Record and Intrafish is a gross underestimate of the real number of dead salmon on Scotland's fish farms is available via:
Leaked video footage of Scottish salmon's mort mountain is available via:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPO1QslCSY8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dymilWGglxw
The Ferret reported earlier this week on how diseased Scottish salmon (certified via RSPCA Assured) are still being dumped illegally at Whiteshore Cockles in North Uist:
The Ferret: "‘Illegal’ dumping of dead fish in Outer Hebrides continues despite ban vow"
The leaked drone footage is available via: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWgh9ouXkuo
Last week, Salmon Scotland published mortality data for November 2022 detailing alarming death rates:
Download the data directly via: https://www.salmonscotland.co.uk/sites/default/files/2022-12/november_2022_1.pdf
Follow on Twitter via: https://twitter.com/TheGAAIA
Best fishes,
Don
"It is important to remember that this is just the ASC’s definition & that it may well be at odds with what others believe 'Responsible Aquaculture Farming' - or you may believe that there is no such thing" @LRQA @ASC_aqua #Irresposible #ASC #Greenwashing pic.twitter.com/FU9j6eOy31
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 25, 2023
$camon $cotland reported earlier this month (15 January 2023):
A closer look at specific sites shows that the worst salmon farm - as judged by cumulative mortality rate (the % fish which died during the harvest cycle at sea) - was RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms (exclusive supplier to M&S) in Loch Nevis with a staggering 64% mortality (i.e. two out of every three farmed salmon dying):
Mortality data published by Salmon Scotland for October 2022 also revealed shocking death rates at salmon farms across Scotland with 74% mortality at Scottish Sea Farms in Loch Nevis:
REVEALED: 74% monthly mortality (that's 3 out of every 4 fish dying in the space of a single month) at RSPCA Assured @scotseafarms in Loch Nevis (Nevis B). Scottish Sea Farms is the exclusive supplier to @marksandspencer https://t.co/7PNQiIMPl0
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 7, 2022
WTF? @rspcaassured @ScotlandSalmon pic.twitter.com/0NxtnuiUby
$camon $cotland reported last week (20 January 2023):
Named & Shamed: Scotland's Most Deadly Salmon Farms in 2022 (as sponsored by RSPCA Assured & the ASC)! https://t.co/sMPYT23pCl @rspcaassured @ASC_aqua @SoilAssociation @ScotlandSalmon pic.twitter.com/PRuT0z8I2K
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 20, 2023
During 2022, RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms (exclusive supplier to M&S) reported 690,211 dead fish in Loch Nevis - audited by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council in December 2022 - via 22 'Mortality Event Reports' with Gill Health (Complex Gill Diseases) and Environment (jellyfish bloom and zooplankton insult) cited by the Fish Health Inspectorate as causes of mortality:
In July 2021, $camon $cotland filmed inside salmon farms operated by RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms in the Sound of Mull and Loch Creran:
Video Exclusive: Secret Filming Exposes Horrific Welfare Abuse Inside RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon Farms! https://t.co/PHFsqdRJ7i @rspcaassured @scotseafarms @marksandspencer @ScottishSPCA @APHAgovuk @ProfCMDwyer @LynneUSneddon @ciwf @Animallawyersuk @vivacampaigns @Ecohustler pic.twitter.com/RLJYPfe1w8
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 11, 2022
Back in 2018, Scottish Salmon Watch forced the public disclosure of horrific photos of farmed salmon - including RSPCA Assured and ASC-certified Scottish Sea Farms (Norskott Havbruk):
Download more photos of disease-ridden salmon farmed by Scottish Sea Farms online here
Edie Bowles @Animallawyersuk said the dossier, compiled by Don Staniford, a critic of salmon farming, indicated “systemic and obvious” pain & suffering that could justify legal action against @scotgov @MairiGougeon @SSPOsays https://t.co/ZuzAis8gEr @SundayTimesScot @ciwf @scotgp pic.twitter.com/RPVIAL3KlS
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 2, 2020
Read more via:
Greenwash Alert: The ASC's New 'Salmon Standard' (Version 1.4) Rolls Out on 1st February!
Salmon Farming is Criminal - breaches of welfare laws by RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms!
The Times: "Scottish salmon supplier to M&S cleared over welfare claims"
The Times: "RSPCA investigates Scottish salmon supplier to M&S over lice accusations"
Photos of Welfare Abuse at RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms
M&S Irresponsibly Sourced Scottish Salmon (as greenwashed by RSPCA Assured)!
Norskott Havbruk (Scottish Sea Farms) Report "Biological Challenges" (i.e. Deaths & Disease)!
ASC-Certified/Audited Mass Mortalities Pile Up at Lousy Mowi & Scottish Sea Farms!
Dead in the Water - Scottish Salmon's Mortality Mountain Piles Ever Higher in 2021!
Bullshit Called on M&S's "Responsibly Sourced" Scottish Salmon!
Ecohustler sticks it to "responsibly sourced" Scottish salmon sold by M&S!
The Salmon Dance - M&S petition hand in event
Breaking News: ISA reported at RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms on the Isle of Mull
Damning Disease Report for RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms in Loch Spelve
Fish Farmer: "RSPCA Assured lifts Loch Spelve suspension"
Video Scoop: RSPCA Assured Diseased Salmon from M&S
RSPCA Suspends Spelve Salmon Farm & 'Urgently Investigates' M&S Supplier Scottish Sea Farms!
2.2 Million Missing Mortalities at Scottish Sea Farms?
Locals Horse in Opposition to Scottish Sea Farms
The Killing Farms - Scottish Salmon's Horror Story Continues!
BBC Countryfile features lice-infested RSPCA Assured salmon!
Leaked Email: Staff Cuts at Scottish Sea Farms Compromise Fish Welfare
Welfare Warning for Scottish Salmon - stormy waters & prolonged periods of pain forecast!
Video Exposes Welfare Abuse at RSPCA Assured salmon farm sourced by M&S 'Lochmuir'
"Over 50" Lice Per Fish at Scottish Sea Farms in Loch Kishorn
Photo Dossier of Diseased, Deformed & Abused Scottish Salmon
Scottish Government rejects industry pleas on sick salmon photos
Salmon firms bid to block diseased photos
REVEALED: Legal Threats to Prevent Publication of Damning Photographs
Sick Scottish Sea Farms (real name - Norskott Havbruk) "affected by an earlier than planned harvest of fish due to illness" https://t.co/SKqUC4BKVQ @fishfarmermag @scotseafarms @LeroySeafood https://t.co/q0iRAIMRra @markruskell @FergusEwingMSP @marinescotland @KateForbesMSP pic.twitter.com/aDXVMtlBIm
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 14, 2019
Shame on the Aquaculture Stewardship Council for greenwashing lousy Scottish salmon! @ASC_aqua @scotseafarms @LeroySeafood @marksandspencer @LRQA @ScotlandSalmon @fms_scotland @WildFishCons @tavishscott @CCNScotland @Ecohustler https://t.co/6jUcqqpg8H pic.twitter.com/kMkO2fBnXf
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 24, 2023
ADDENDUM:
Date: Wed, Jan 25, 2023 at 7:56 AM
Subject: Re: Named & Shamed: Scotland's Most Deadly Salmon Farms in 2022!
To: Dignan, Sam <Sam.Dignan@lrqa.com>
Cc: LRQA ASC <asc-ca@lrqa.com>, info@asc-aqua.org <info@asc-aqua.org>, chris.ninnes@asc-aqua.org <chris.ninnes@asc-aqua.org>, Bertrand.Charron@asc-aqua.org <Bertrand.Charron@asc-aqua.org>, certification@asc-aqua.org <certification@asc-aqua.org>, <ally.dingwall@asc-aqua.org>, Rachel Mulrenan <rachel@wildfish.org>, <general@fms.scot>, John Aitchison <johnaitchison1@me.com>
Sam,