Green Around the Gills

Media Backgrounder: Mort Disposal of Scottish Farmed Salmon - Ewan Kennedy - The €10 Million Mort Man

European Commission complaint over dead fish dumping forces rule change

Where have all the dead fish gone?

Fears raised by salmon dump

Diseased fish dumping continues

"Well worth making sure all ensiler hatches are clear of debris & no drippy bins of morts are lying around before he arrives" advises a salmon farmer in an internal email obtained via a Subject Access Request.
Top advice - we're watching! @ScotlandSalmon https://t.co/Pq6nzt027t pic.twitter.com/9SS7zeCxSZ
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 18, 2023

Leaked video nasty from Shetland - please stop greenwashing disease-ridden Scottish salmon! https://t.co/nagxekM0JB @rspcaassured @ASC_aqua @ScotlandSalmon @tavishscott @amcarmichaelMP @BeatriceWishart @scotseafarms @CookeScotland @ArianeBurgessHI pic.twitter.com/SjlqVuEbEp
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 22, 2023

Footage by @ciwf of @rspcaassured @scotseafarms morts waiting to be incinerated, or perhaps made into pet food. @RSPCA_official @RSPCA_PATeam : you should be ashamed of yourselves and stop your association with this appalling industry. pic.twitter.com/vHRvS25a2J
— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) January 26, 2023

Posted at 07:10 PM | Permalink

Leaked Videos Expose Welfare Abuse at RSPCA Assured Bakkafrost in Loch Fyne - soon to be ASC-certified as 'responsible'?!

Leaked video footage shot by investigators hired by Compassion in World Farming reveals welfare abuse and lice infestation at RSPCA Assured Bakkafrost's salmon farm at Quarry Point in Loch Fyne:

Leaked videos expose horrific lice infestation inside @rspcaassured Bakkafrost's Quarry Point salmon farm in Loch Fyne - soon to be certified as 'responsible' via @ASC_aqua https://t.co/SZ11rhCCQw
Please boycott RSPCA Assured Scottish salmon! @ScotlandSalmon @ciwf @philip_ciwf pic.twitter.com/aO20Fs4O8O
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 31, 2023

Here's leaked images from inside RSPCA Assured Bakkafrost's salmon farm at Quarry Point in Loch Fyne sourced from CIWF's investigation:

Leaked photos @ciwf from Bakkafrost's Quarry Point salmon farm in Loch Fyne - shame on @rspcaassured for greenwashing lousy Scottish salmon @ScotlandSalmon @RSPCA_official @RSPCA_PATeam @RSPCAChris @ChrisGPackham @philip_ciwf pic.twitter.com/W6bxfl0oah
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 31, 2023

Just last week, the UK's Department of Trade & Industry and Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs visited Quarry Point salmon farm to promote Scottish salmon to Brazilian chefs. Fish Farming Expert reported (25 January 2023):

"If I were to define the Scottish market in one word, that word would be quality" says Brazilian chef visiting a salmon farm in Loch Fyne https://t.co/qhnh7WFuy9
If I were to define Scottish salmon in one word, that word would be completeanduttercrap @TavishScott @ScotlandSalmon pic.twitter.com/qAtGK1flid
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 25, 2023

Here's a photo of the Brazilian chefs with the UK trade delegation - posing in the same area as mass mortalities are stored and disposed of:

If the Brazilian chefs had visited RSPCA Assured Bakkafrost's Quarry Point salmon farm in April 2019 then they would have been horrified:

The opening frame of this video from WildFish is exactly where the Brazilian chefs are standing!

Watching such gruesome video evidence hardly inspires confidence in R$PCA Assured - who receive over £500,000 per year from the salmon farming industry in certification fees.

HELP!

Faroese company Bakkafrost are torturing animals in Loch Fyne. @ScottishSPCA @RSPCA_PATeam @MairiMcAllan @LochfyneDeli pic.twitter.com/Q0WFUQJ8iy
— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) January 31, 2023

Bakkafrost Scotland (known as The Scottish Salmon Company up to June 2022) has officially reported to the Scottish Government 145,250 dead salmon via 17 'Mortality Event Reports' since March 2017 at Quarry Point salmon farm - including mortalities due to Proliferative Gill Disease, Pancreas Disease and Complex Gill Disease:

Not only is Bakkafrost Scotland certified as 'welfare friendly' via RSPCA Assured but the Norwegian/Faroese-owned company is gearing up for certification as 'responsible' via the Aquaculture Stewardship Council - including salmon farms in Loch Fyne (Quarry Point, Meall Mhor, Tarbert South, Strondoir Bay, Glenan Bay, Ardcastle, Ardgaddan and Gob a Bharra):

Here's the ASC's website identifying Bakkafrost Scotland salmon farms currently undergoing initial audits:

Shame on the ASC and RSPCA for greenwashing Bakkafrost and other salmon farming companies spreading infectious diseases, lice infestation and welfare abuse across Scotland!

Here's gruesome video footage shot inside Bakkafrost's Meall Mhor salmon farm in Loch Fyne in April 2021:

Earlier this month (16 January 2023), Animal Equality published video footage shot in October 2022 of mass mortalities at Meall Mhor salmon farm in Loch Fyne:

#FarmedFish deserve to be treated like more than numbers on a page 🐟💙 Sign our petition if you agree ➡️ https://t.co/BYrGZy7Ao2

📸 @TheGAAIA pic.twitter.com/u8xYsHFqjI
— Animal Equality UK (@animal_equality) January 28, 2023

Whenever Scottish Salmon Watch has visited RSPCA Assured Bakkafrost in Loch Fyne the stench of disease-ridden Scottish salmon has been nauseating:

When Scottish Salmon Watch visited Bakkafrost's Quarry Point salmon farm in September 2020, warning signs told us to keep 15 metres away from the disease-ridden cages:

"No Unauthorised Access - Keep 15m Away" warn The Scottish Salmon Company. Nothing to See Here (Honest)! https://t.co/MI8Ui8POaf @salmon_scottish @Folketrygdfond pic.twitter.com/ZUD7Cnaywb
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 6, 2020

It's not difficult to see why Bakkafrost - and other salmon farming companies - want the public to stay away from the welfare nightmare that is RSPCA Assured salmon farming. Here's drone footage shot by Inside Scottish Salmon Feedlots at Bakkafrost's deadly operations off the Isle of Gigha - as reported by STV News in October 2021:

Thousands of rotting salmon ‘stink out’ village after mass death at farm.https://t.co/hOoOmXr0n7
— STV News (@STVNews) October 20, 2021

French TV (France 5) visited Bakkafrost's Quarry Point salmon farm in September 2021 - as well as Bakkafrost's West Strome salmon farm in Loch Carron and Mowi's Poll na Gille salmon farm in the Sound of Jura - with a broadcast in November 2021 on 'The Truth About Scottish Salmon':

Video of French TV's 'The Truth About Salmon' featuring Mowi & The Scottish Salmon Company https://t.co/PIwqhztqhu @France5tv @hugoclement @MowiScotlandLtd @salmon_scottish @ScotlandSalmon @Folketrygdfond @Try_Lochlander @waitrose @sainsburys @Tesco @LidlGB @AldiUK @SaumonLabel pic.twitter.com/u16uaGZ97K
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 21, 2021

In June 2019, Scottish Salmon Watch exposed welfare abuse inside Bakkafrost's salmon farm at Aird in Loch Shieldaig:

And who could forget the shocking video footage shot by Corin Smith inside Bakkafrost's Vacasay salmon farm in Loch Roag in August 2018 - as broadcast by the BBC 'One Show', BBC Panorama and Netflix's Seaspiracy:

The Daily Mail reported in September 2018:

More gruesome video footage of diseased salmon dumped by Bakkafrost, Mowi and Loch Duart at Whiteshore Cockles in North Uist has recently been leaked via FishyLeaks:

Photos of welfare abuse at Bakkafrost (The Scottish Salmon Company) have been flushed out via Freedom of Information from the Scottish Government - including:

More photos and video footage of welfare abuse at Bakkafrost's West Strome salmon farm in Loch Carron are available online here

Here's what to expect if The Scottish Salmon Company is allowed to expand on Arran! @salmon_scottish @North_Ayrshire @ArranCoast @ArranEco @arranbanner @marinescotland @scotgov @ScotGovNetZero @SSPOsays @Folketrygdfond https://t.co/T4hSvF6HHZ #Scottish #Scamon #Bakkafrost pic.twitter.com/jwwWq69VSg
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 12, 2021

$camon $cotland reported yesterday (30 January 2023):

Video footage showing biosecurity breaches at The Scottish Salmon Company (Bakkafrost Scotland) in Loch Carron.

"Large biomass mortality removal procedures allowed a breach of mortality containment" reported @scotgov

(Incriminating footage by Jamie Moyes) pic.twitter.com/w5n2eXViy2
— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) January 30, 2023

Bakkafrost's "Inadequately Implemented" Biosecurity in Loch Carron - dead salmon spewing infectious diseases & wastes into Marine Protected Area!

Bakkafrost Haemorrhages $almoney - salvage of 'toxic' & 'explosive' feed barge costs "a cool million odd" with £81K per day in crane hire fees!

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

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

Bakkafrost is Dead in the Water in Scotland - 2021 Annual Report Details "Deadly Cocktail"!

Media Backgrounder: Year of the Dead Salmon - Bakkafrost Scotland is the King of Death!

1.8 Million Morts Reported on Scottish Fish Farms Already in 2022!

Revealed: 30+ Million Dead Scottish Salmon Since 2017 - over 8 million morts reported last year & over half a million in first two weeks of 2022!!

Over 80% Mortality at The Scottish Salmon Company!!!

Mass Mortalities - 66% in one month at The Scottish Salmon Company on the Isle of Gigha!

Scottish Salmon Exposed - Photos highlight the disease & welfare nightmare at The Scottish Salmon Company!

Channel 4 News on Scottish Salmon Spying on Corin Smith!

Bakkafrost (Faroese/Norwegian owner of The 'Scottish' Salmon Company) set for hefty fine in the Faroes!

Salmongate: Corin Smith's 'Subject Access Requests' to the Salmafia Reveal Spying by Scottish Salmon!

The Spy Who Loved 'Scottish' Salmon - from Russia, Ukraine, Switzerland, Norway & the Faroes with Love for Salmoney!

Herald/Ferret: "Scottish Salmon Company chief hired investigator to 'snoop' on fish farming critic"

Video of France 5s 'The Truth About Salmon' featuring Mowi & The Scottish Salmon Company

STV News: "Thousands of rotting salmon ‘stink out’ village after mass death at farm"

X-Rated Video: 90% Mortality at The Faroese/Norwegian 'Scottish' Salmon Company?!

Photos of Welfare Abuse at The Scottish Salmon Company in Loch Carron (West Strome salmon farm)

Videos of Welfare Abuse at The Scottish Salmon Company in Loch Carron (West Strome salmon farm)

Animal Equality Exposes Scottish Salmon Slaughterhouse

Norwegian Government Asked to Divest from 'Unethical' & 'Irresponsible' Scottish Salmon!

Over 5 Million Dead 'Scottish' Salmon Since 2017 - Sponsored by Investors from Norway, the Faroes etc!

The Camera Never Lies About Scottish Salmon!

Photo Dossier of Diseased, Deformed & Abused Scottish Salmon

The Severely Damaged Scottish Salmon Company - For Sale Now!

Maaey day for the Scottish Salmon Company

Ground-truthing disease-ridden Scottish salmon

Mmmm Blind Scottish Salmon with Boils, Anyone?

Whistleblower Photos of The Scottish Salmon Company

Gotcha! The Scottish Salmon Company/Bakkafrost @Folketrygdfond caught on camera breaching biosecurity in Loch Carron https://t.co/z1AyDdVP68
"Large biomass mortality removal procedures allowed a breach of mortality containment" reported @scotgov @marinescotland @ScotlandSalmon pic.twitter.com/hk80BD864g
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 30, 2023

Posted at 06:32 PM | Permalink

EXPOSED: Whiteshore Estimates 97,500 Litres of Mort Wastes PER WEEK (with 25,000 litres of 'condensate effluent' spread on Isle of Vallay & tankers to the mainland)!

A Freedom of Information disclosure from Western Isles Council (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) lifts the lid on the illegal dumping of millions of diseased Scottish salmon by Mowi, Bakkafrost (The Scottish Salmon Company) and Loch Duart at Whiteshore Cockles in North Uist. A 74-page PDF - one of 15 documents disclosed via FOI on 31 January 2023 - detailed complaints filed by members of the public in October 2022:

The FOI disclosure on 31 January 2023 included an email from Western Isles Council (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) admitting the council's "limited ability to deal with any complaints":

The FOI disclosure on 31 January 2023 revealed that Western Isles Council (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) expressed serious environmental concerns in May 2022 with respect to the proposal submitted by Whiteshore Cockles to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in March 2022 to 'spread' ca. 25,000 litres of waste per week on the Island of Vallay along with three tanker loads per week of 25,000 litres of "condensate effluent" taken to the mainland "for use in an anaerobic digester" (plus waste fish oil, excess fishmeal and wastewater removed by tanker) and concerns that the information submitted by Whiteshore Cockles was 'not satisfactory':

The FOI disclosure on 31 January 2023 revealed that in November 2021 SEPA suggested an option to extend the derogation to 31 March 2023 and referred to an intention by Whiteshore Cockles to "re-evaluate a number of the proposed emissions control measures to meet the relevant requirements in light of SEPA's feedback on the withdrawn application":

The FOI disclosure on 31 January 2023 included an email from the Scottish Government in November 2021 proposing an end to the derogation on 31 March 2022 but leaving it open "to be debated":

The FOI disclosure on 31 January 2023 included an email from Ralph Thompson of Whiteshore Cockles in March 2022 asking Western Isles Council (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) and the Scottish Government to 'exert pressure' on the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) "to process the application ASAP":

The Ferret reported earlier this month (16 January 2023) that SEPA was still processing the application by Whiteshore Cockles for a fish drier - to replace the illegal dumping of diseased Scottish salmon - with a PPC only issued by SEPA "if it is satisfied the installation will operate within relevant environmental quality standards":

The FOI disclosure on 31 January 2023 included an admission by Western Isles Council (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) in November 2021 that Whiteshore Cockles was "not in compliance" with the Consumer & Environmental Services Manager expressing the view that the derogation should not be extended beyond 31 March 2022 (certainly not to 31 March 2023):

The FOI disclosure on 31 January 2023 included an email to the Scottish Government in October 2022. "I was under the impression that it would only be a few months until the new plant was operational, however those planned seem to have stalled with SEPA and so this surely can't go on indefinitely?" asked Lisa Johnson, Chartered Environmental Health Officer at Western Isles Council (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar):

Thus far, SEPA has failed to respond to FOI requests re. Whiteshore Cockles and has not disclosed information via FOI since September 2019.

The FOI disclosure on 31 January 2023 included an email from Charles Allan of Marine Scotland in November 2021 referring to "the challenge for the Uists/Barra is the current lack of disposal options and the difficulty of transporting the mortality off-island":

The FOI disclosure on 31 January 2023 included an email from Whiteshore Cockles in November 2021 claiming that nothing "rings alarm bells":

Another email disclosed via FOI on 31 January 2023 detailed how the Scottish Government in October 2022 were being told by Whiteshore Cockles that the fish drier could be "up and running for 1 November 2022" even though it was "still unsure if this will be agreed by SEPA":

Here's the FOI disclosure from Western Isles Council (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) emailed on 31 January 2023:

From: Tim Langley <tim.langley@cne-siar.gov.uk>
Date: Tue, Jan 31, 2023 at 9:49 AM
Subject: RE: FOI review request re. Whiteshore Cockles since 1 November 2021 [Ticket#2022102127000047]
To: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Cc: Freedom of Information Requests <foi@cne-siar.gov.uk>

Good morning Mr Staniford

I refer to your request for review below. I apologise for the delay in replying to you.

You original request was as follows:

Please provide information on Whiteshore Cockles since 1 November 2021.

Please include emails, letters, complaints and any other documentation pertaining to Whiteshore Cockles since 1 November 2021.

Please include any mortality data received relating to the disposal and transport of farmed salmon to Whiteshore Cockles since 1 November 2021.

A recent FOI disclosure this week from the Scottish Government includes emails showing that mortality data was recently reported for the first time to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar following the establishment of a task force in 2021. Please therefore include any data, reports and other information detailing the weight and number of mortalities being disposed of and transported to Whiteshore Cockles since 1 November 2021.

The Comhairle’s response was as follows:

On 4/10/2022 the Comhairle received a complaint regarding the smell related to the location. The complainant was advised to contact the Scottish Government.

Any other information held is exempt from release under Section 30(c) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs.

Disclosure of the requested information would seriously erode the Comhairle’s ability to discharge its statutory obligations in respect of environmental health, and there would be an increased risk of future non-compliance by businesses.

The public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it

You were dissatisfied with that response. I understand that you have since been provided with a copy of the complaints in question, so I have not reviewed that element of the request. In relation to the other aspects of the request, I have concluded that, although the nature of the information requested falls within the exemption provided for in s30(c) of the Act, for the most part the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in maintaining the exemption.. I therefore overturn the original decision of the Comhairle and attach the documents falling within the scope of your request. Mobile phone numbers have been redacted. One email, relating to planning permission at Whiteshore’s site, has been withheld on the basis that it is internal to the Comhairle and I believe that the public interest in not disclosing it, thereby enabling the Comhairle’s staff to discuss matters freely between themselves for the purposes of carrying out their statutory functions, is more important than the public interest in disclosing it. Upon investigation, it is apparent that the Comhairle does not hold mortality data relating to the period from 1 November 2021.

Should you remain dissatisfied after completion of the review process you may, within 6 months, apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS, to establish whether your request for information has been processed in accordance with Part 1 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. You may make your application online at www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal. Should you remain dissatisfied after the conclusion of an application to the Scottish Information Commissioner you have the right to appeal to the Court of Session on a point of law.

Yours sincerely

Tim Langley

tim.langley@cne-siar.gov.uk | 01851 822604 | Ext 211214 | 07970 552 371

Documents posted online here:

#1 PDF Re_ Whiteshore Cockles - Task and Finish Group 2 ..._redacted

#2 PDF Whiteshore Cockles - Task and Finish Group - bu..._redacted

#3 PDF Whiteshore Cockles - Task and Finish Group - fu..._redacted

#4 PDF 211102 APHA_redacted

#5 PDF 211102 FHI-SG_redacted

#6 PDF 211102 SG_redacted

#7 PDF 211104 SEPA_redacted

#8 PDF 211109 SEPA_redacted

#9 PDF 211117 LA_redacted

#10 221004 SG_redacted

#11 PDF FOI info with 4 attachments_redacted

#12 PDF FW_ Whiteshore Cockles_redacted

#13 PDF Re_ Task and Finish Group - Whiteshore Cockles ..._redacted

#14 PDF RE_ Whiteshore Cockles - Task and Finish Group ..._redacted

#15 PDF Re_ Whiteshore Cockles - Task and Finish Group 1 ..._redacted

When you have the misfortune to live near stinky salmon farms it's important to have a sense of humour - cartoon from Isle of Harris News @facebook https://t.co/LoPlgNG2DA @GogarServices @BBTankers @Ferguson_TPT @LochDuartSalmon @MowiScotlandLtd @tavishscott @ScotlandSalmon pic.twitter.com/mG9RGzxPZS
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 30, 2023

In a strange coincidence (it's almost as if our government agencies are in cahoots together), the Scottish Government also posted heavily redacted documents on Whiteshore Cockles on 31 January 2023 online here

Old MacDonald had a farmed salmon dump - E-I-E-I-O
And on his land he had a cash cow - E-I-E-I-O
With a stink stink here And a pong pong there
Everywhere money @HIEScotland @cne_siar @scotgov #Salmafia #Salmoney #Salmonopoly @ScotlandSalmon @ScottishEPA https://t.co/LL9dCWFb5n pic.twitter.com/CGxuBBBpBD
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 28, 2022

The Scottish Government's FOI disclosure published on 31 January 2023 includes an update from a 'Task and Finish Group' meeting in December 2021:

The Scottish Government's FOI disclosure published on 31 January 2023 includes a letter from SEPA in January 2022:

The Scottish Government's FOI disclosure published on 31 January 2023 includes an 'article' allegedly published by the Stornoway Gazette in April 2022 from Whiteshore Cockles:

Here's a copy of the 'article' which Whiteshore Cockles claims was published in the Stornoway Gazette (as disclosed via FOI by the Scottish Government on 31 January 2023):

When asked about the 'article' by Whiteshore Cockles, the editor of the StornowayGazette told $camon $cotland:

From: Murray Macleod <murray.macleod@nationalworld.com>
Date: Fri, Oct 21, 2022 at 9:19 AM
Subject: Re: Letter from Angus MacDonald of Whiteshore Cockles published in April 2022?
To: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>

Something did appear, but it wasn't in this form and wasn't in the form of a letter. It's difficult to get pdfs for anything over three months, due to the way our system works. It will take time.

Despite repeated requests, the Stornoway Gazette has failed to provide a copy of the actual published article written by Whiteshore Cockles but their editor emailed this:

From: Murray Macleod <murray.macleod@nationalworld.com>
Date: Thu, Feb 2, 2023 at 4:12 PM
Subject: Re: Letter from Angus MacDonald of Whiteshore Cockles published in April 2022?
To: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>

This is what was published.

A long awaited new facility for dealing with mortalities from the salmon farming industry has reached a milestone with an application to the regulator, SEPA, for permission to begin production.

The Whiteshore Cockles facility, at Bayhead in North Uist, is crucial to fish farming throughout the Western Isles and it is envisaged the new plant will provide 15 jobs – a major employment boost for the island. At the same time, there are plans for innovative ways to use the by-products for potential benefit to the crofting community

After eight years of designing and installing a groundbreaking and innovative drier system to process the salmon mortalities into recycled by-products, the company told the Gazette this week that installation of the equipment is almost complete.

There have been years of discussions and advice involving SEPA and various consultants. Now they have submitted a Part A PPC application to SEPA to authorise a permit which will allow production to begin. When the plant is fully operative it is envisaged that the 15 staff will cover a range of trades and skills while transportation of fish from throughout the Western Isles also supports three full-time drivers and two part-time.

Whiteshore Cockles Ltd is a family owned company based in Bayhead and has been involved in the disposal of fish farm waste for 18 years. Angus Macdonald, his wife Michelle and son Fraser all work in the business which also has a construction arm.

Angus is better known as probably the biggest crofter in the Western Isles with a herd of Highland cattle which grazes on Vallay island. That background gives him a particular motivation to find ways in which the new facility can benefit the crofting community.

European legislation restricted their original method of disposal and made the company look to a more environmentally friendly recycling system which will help to ensure the long-term viability of the islands’ fish farm industry.

A multi-million pound investment has been involved and the plant will produce fish oil and fmeal from the salmon waste in an odour-controlled environment. A biomass burner has been installed which will utilise half the meal as a fuel to heat the drier system. Excess heat can also be used to run the grain dryer and provide a service to crofters.

The remaining oil and meal will be used to produce biofuel and as an addition to an Anaerobic Digester system. The company is also exploring the idea of using the meal as alow-grade agricultural fertiliser which again could be offered locally as a lower-cost alternative to crofters.

New staff have already been employed to maintain and service the machinery and once the permit is granted the company will advertise for further employees to work within the site.

The company have thanked the fish farms for their continued support and encouragement as well as Highlands and Islands Enterprise for their financial assistance and the Bayhead community for “their patience and understanding of the various issues that have arisen whilst the plans and installation of the new processing plant have been taken place during the transition period”.

The Ferret reported (16 January 2023):

NEW: The “illegal” dumping of dead farmed fish on a Hebridean beauty spot has been allowed to continue despite authorities’ plans to ban the practice in March 2022, The Ferret can reveal.https://t.co/6rdiY3s8Sg
— The Ferret (@FerretScot) January 16, 2023

More details via: Media Backgrounder: Leaked Video & Photos from Whiteshore Cockles CIWF Investigation

In September 2018, Angus MacDonald of Whiteshore Cockles told the BBC 'One Show' that he would not carry on dumping diseased salmon for "much longer":

Digital Economy Minister @KateForbesMSP visited Whiteshore Cockles in North Uist earlier this week to hear how they've used digital disruption as an opportunity to diversify and thrive pic.twitter.com/nct0dhG9sw
— Scottish Government Finance and Economy (@scotgoveconomy) October 2, 2019

"The pictures show open pits with liquefied/ensiled fish morts" @scotgov "The pits are remaining uncovered for weeks with little seaweed cover, which is producing a smell locals are complaining about. Evidence of seepage from the side of the pits" https://t.co/OvxPfiOiaO pic.twitter.com/ET9hilMV1N
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 2, 2021

The Times reported in May 2021:

When Bruce Sandison of The Salmon Farm Protest Group blew the whistle on the illegal dumping of diseased salmon in North Uist back in 2005, I bet he didn't think Whiteshore Cockles would still be raising a stink nearly two decades later.

Back in 2005, Bruce Sandison (aka Old Trout @PrivateEyeNews) received a tip-off about an illegal dump for diseased salmon in North Uist. He visited the site taking photos @SundayTimesScot
17 years later @scotgov is closing Whiteshore Cockles down! https://t.co/LL9dCWFb5n pic.twitter.com/OtizeMIkkX
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 27, 2022

Private Eye reported in February 2023:

Private Eye reporting on the stench of disease-ridden Scottish salmon @PrivateEyeNews @cne_siar @scotgov @_KateForbes @MairiGougeon @marinescotland @FerretScot @MowiScotlandLtd @LochDuartSalmon @Folketrygdfond @ScotlandSalmon @tavishscott @ScottishEPA pic.twitter.com/DdSbAV2qHC
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 9, 2023

FishyLeaks: Videos Expose Disease-Ridden Scottish Salmon (as certified by RSPCA Assured)!

The Ferret: "‘Illegal’ dumping of dead fish in Outer Hebrides continues despite ban vow"

Media Backgrounder: Leaked Video & Photos from Whiteshore Cockles CIWF Investigation

Stinky Scottish Salmon: FOI reveals "the stench of rotten fish blowing on the wind....something foul, clearly death and decay"!

Closing the Net on Diseased Scottish Salmon - Whiteshore Cockles Finally Dumped in March!

The ‘illegal’ dumping of dead fish in Hebridean beauty spot set to end

FOI disclosure on Whiteshore Cockles by the Scottish Government (202100254831) on 8 December 2021

The Times: "Tougher curbs for island salmon graveyard in Outer Hebrides"

FOI disclosure on Whiteshore Cockles by the Scottish Government in August 2021

Exposed: 'Legal' Salmon Dump in North Uist Caught Importing Diseased Fish From the Mainland (& they've still not applied to SEPA for a pollution permit)!

Taking the Fish - Illegal Salmon Dump Caught Taking Diseased Fish from the Mainland Despite 'Derogation'!

Scottish Government ‘exploring strategies’ for mort burial site

P&J: "Lives of Western Isles residents ‘severely hampered by rotting fish dump’"

The Times: "Fish graveyard ‘severely hampers’ life for islanders, officials claim"

FOI Lifts Lid on the Stench of Scottish Salmon: Government Legal Department Target Illegal Dumping of Diseased Salmon

Appeal to Scottish Information Commissioner re. FOI refusal by Western Isles Council on Whiteshore Cockles

Letter to Scottish Ministers on Illegal Dumping of Diseased Scottish Salmon in North Uist

Daily Mail: "Dumped into the dunes....thousands of rotten, disease ridden salmon"

Independent: "Scottish islanders raise a stink over vast salmon graveyard"

Video Exposes Mass Graves of Millions of Diseased Scottish Salmon

The Times: "Islanders raise a stink over vast salmon graveyard"

Sunday National: "The Millions of Dead Salmon Dumped, Burnt or Destroyed"

Media Backgrounder: Mort Disposal of Scottish Farmed Salmon - Ewan Kennedy - The €10 Million Mort Man

European Commission complaint over dead fish dumping forces rule change

Where have all the dead fish gone?

Fears raised by salmon dump

Diseased fish dumping continues

Call it Karma, Hypocrisy or Irony?
Angus MacDonald & Whiteshore Cockles threaten @thetimes @thetimesscot with legal action over a news story of their illegal graveyard for diseased Scottish salmon @ScotlandSalmon
Now lawyers @scotgov close them down! https://t.co/LL9dCWFb5n pic.twitter.com/3mUS1Lgl9J
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 28, 2022

Posted at 03:49 PM | Permalink

FOI disclosure on Whiteshore Cockles from Western Isles Council (31 January 2023)

Good morning Mr Staniford

I refer to your request for review below. I apologise for the delay in replying to you.

You original request was as follows:

Please provide information on Whiteshore Cockles since 1 November 2021.

Please include emails, letters, complaints and any other documentation pertaining to Whiteshore Cockles since 1 November 2021.

Please include any mortality data received relating to the disposal and transport of farmed salmon to Whiteshore Cockles since 1 November 2021.

The Comhairle’s response was as follows:

On 4/10/2022 the Comhairle received a complaint regarding the smell related to the location. The complainant was advised to contact the Scottish Government.

Any other information held is exempt from release under Section 30(c) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs.

The public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it

Yours sincerely

Tim Langley

tim.langley@cne-siar.gov.uk | 01851 822604 | Ext 211214 | 07970 552 371

Documents posted online here:

#1 PDF Re_ Whiteshore Cockles - Task and Finish Group 2 ..._redacted

#2 PDF Whiteshore Cockles - Task and Finish Group - bu..._redacted

#3 PDF Whiteshore Cockles - Task and Finish Group - fu..._redacted

#4 PDF 211102 APHA_redacted

#5 PDF 211102 FHI-SG_redacted

#6 PDF 211102 SG_redacted

#7 PDF 211104 SEPA_redacted

#8 PDF 211109 SEPA_redacted

#9 PDF 211117 LA_redacted

#10 221004 SG_redacted

#11 PDF FOI info with 4 attachments_redacted

#12 PDF FW_ Whiteshore Cockles_redacted

#13 PDF Re_ Task and Finish Group - Whiteshore Cockles ..._redacted

#14 PDF RE_ Whiteshore Cockles - Task and Finish Group ..._redacted

#15 PDF Re_ Whiteshore Cockles - Task and Finish Group 1 ..._redacted

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Nov 18, 2022 at 12:23 PM
Subject: FOI review request re. Whiteshore Cockles since 1 November 2021 [Ticket#2022102127000047]
To: Tim Langley <tim.langley@cne-siar.gov.uk>
Cc: CNES FOI Team <foi@cne-siar.gov.uk>

Please consider this a formal request for a FOI review.

Suffice to say that $camon $cotland disagrees with the CNES decision to refuse the FOI.

Could you please provide a copy of the complaint regarding the smell at Whiteshores and any correspondence?

In terms of the other information denied please review the refusal.

$camon $cotland believes that there is a public interest in disclosing the information - and this overrides CNES's desire to keep a lid on the information.

Please provide a receipt for this FOI review request.

Thanks,

Don Staniford

Director, $camon $cotland

On Fri, Nov 18, 2022 at 11:42 AM CNES FOI Team <foi@cne-siar.gov.uk> wrote:

Good Morning,

Re: help desk request (ticket ref 2022102127000047), please see response here:
On 4/10/2022 the Comhairle received a complaint regarding the smell related to the location. The complainant was advised to contact the Scottish Government.

Any other information held is exempt from release under Section 30(c) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs.

Disclosure of the requested information would seriously erode the Comhairle’s ability to discharge its statutory obligations in respect of environmental health, and there would be an increased risk of future non-compliance by businesses.
The public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it

If you are dissatisfied with this response you can request the Comhairle to review this response to your request for information. You have 40 working days from the date of receipt of this response in which to lodge this request for review. A request for review must be processed in accordance with Part 1 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, must be in writing, describe your original request and explain why you are dissatisfied. An application for review should be sent to Legal Services Manager, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Council Offices, Sandwick Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis HS1 2BW (tim.langley@cne-siar.gov.uk). A request for review lodged with the Legal Services Manager must be processed promptly and in any event within 20 working days of receipt.

Should you remain dissatisfied after completion of the review process you may, within 6 months, apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS, to establish whether your request for information has been processed in accordance with Part 1 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. You may also request an appeal through the Commissioner\'s online appeal service which is available 24/7 and offers requesters real time help and advice about their appeal - www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal Should you remain dissatisfied after the conclusion of an application to the Scottish Information Commissioner you have the right to appeal to the Court of Session on a point of law.

--
Kind regards
FOI Team
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar | Sandwick Road | Stornoway | Isle of Lewis | HS1 2BW
Email: foi@cne-siar.gov.uk
Web: https://www..cne-siar.gov.uk
Tel: 01851 600 501 (Extension 211598)

21/10/2022 09:05 - Don Staniford wrote:

Please provide information on Whiteshore Cockles since 1 November 2021.

Please include emails, letters, complaints and any other documentation pertaining to Whiteshore Cockles since 1 November 2021.

Please include any mortality data received relating to the disposal and transport of farmed salmon to Whiteshore Cockles since 1 November 2021.

A recent FOI disclosure this week from the Scottish Government includes emails showing that mortality data was recently reported for the first time to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar following the establishment of a task force in 2021. Please therefore include any data, reports and other information detailing the weight and number of mortalities being disposed of and transported to Whiteshore Cockles since 1 November 2021.

Please consider this a formal request for information under the relevant FOI and Environmental Information regulations.

Please provide a receipt for this FOI request.

Please provide the information electronically.

Thanks,

Don Staniford

Director, $camon $cotland

Posted at 03:20 PM | Permalink

01/30/2023

Bakkafrost's "Inadequately Implemented" Biosecurity in Loch Carron - dead salmon spewing infectious diseases & wastes into Marine Protected Area!

Video footage showing biosecurity breaches at The Scottish Salmon Company (Bakkafrost Scotland) in Loch Carron.

"Large biomass mortality removal procedures allowed a breach of mortality containment" reported @scotgov

(Incriminating footage by Jamie Moyes) pic.twitter.com/w5n2eXViy2
— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) January 30, 2023

'Case Information' slipped out by the Scottish Government just before Xmas on 22 December 2022 is worth a second look if, like me, you have a healthy scepticism about how government agencies love to bury bad news and protect salmon farming from public scrutiny.

Gotcha! The Scottish Salmon Company/Bakkafrost @Folketrygdfond caught on camera breaching biosecurity in Loch Carron https://t.co/z1AyDdVP68
"Large biomass mortality removal procedures allowed a breach of mortality containment" reported @scotgov @marinescotland @ScotlandSalmon pic.twitter.com/hk80BD864g
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 30, 2023

In normal circumstances, the Fish Health Inspectorate detail which updates have been carried out but the update in December 2022 omitted this crucial piece of information (without the dates of updates it is impossible to track which new cases have been uploaded).

When pressed by $camon $cotland, the Scottish Government's Neil Purvis explained: "There were updates to May, June, August and September of 2022, as well as July and September 2021 and May, June, July, August and December 2020". 'Case Information' uploaded on 22 December 2022 includes details an inspection in September 2021 (Case 2021-0258) of West Strome salmon farm in Loch Carron operated by The Scottish Salmon Company (renamed Bakkafrost Scotland in June 2022):

"Discussed biosecurity issues with compromised brail and improvements were indicated," stated the Fish Health Inspectorate report.

The Fish Health Inspectorate report (Case 2021-0258) detailed how biosecurity procedures had not been implemented citing how "large biomass mortality removal procedures allowed a breach of mortality containment":

A Fish Health Inspectorate Visit Report dated 23 November 2021 detailed how biosecurity measures were "inadequately implemented" with a separate letter issued "regarding this issue" ($camon $cotland has requested this information via FOI).

The Fish Health Inspectorate Visit Report dated 23 November 2021 detailed Vibrio as well as Salmon Gill Poxvirus, Neoparamoeba perurans and Paranucelospora theriodion:

In September 2021, Scottish Salmon Watch published shocking video footage of mort disposal at Bakkafrost's salmon farm at West Strome in Loch Carron - including evidence of disease-ridden salmon morts falling into the water near the salmon farm (Loch Carron is a Marine Protected Area):

Video footage of the mort disposal operation @salmon_scottish "The dead boat – absolutely packed to the gunnels with death: at least thirty tonnes of dead salmon on there today”.
Like a serial killer burying the dead bodies before the police arrive! https://t.co/jhrwnsC7Sk
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 13, 2021

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DonStaniford (@donstaniford)

Scottish Salmon Watch published video footage shot inside the West Strome salmon farm earlier in September 2021 with a welfare complaint officially filed on 7 September 2021:

In November 2021, France 5 reported on 'The Truth About Scottish Salmon' - including video footage from Loch Carron:

Earlier this month (16 January 2023), Animal Equality published video footage of mort disposal at Bakkafrost's Meall Mhor salmon farm in Loch Fyne:

In October 2022, $camon $cotland reported on breaches of biosecurity at Mowi and Loch Duart:

Unsatisfactory Biosecurity: Disease Control 'Improvement' & 'Further Investigation' Required at Processing Plants https://t.co/BRT7jIXPOi @MowiScotlandLtd @LochDuartSalmon
Is @ScotGovNetZero finally closing the net on infectious diseases, pathogens & viruses? @ScotlandSalmon pic.twitter.com/SdjnvJqpGt
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 5, 2022

In November 2022, $camon $cotland published photos of Mowi's processing plant in Fort William:

Photos inside Mowi's "highly offensive & polluting" @ScottishEPA processing plant in Fort William Disinfected wastewater goes down the drain into public sewer to Caol. Viscera goes to Pelagia in Shetland @TavishScott & solid waste to Energen Biogas in Glasgow @Ferguson_TPT #Jobs pic.twitter.com/i7lBDlbSHS
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 5, 2022

$camon $cotland reported in September 2022:

All hail Bakkafrost Scotland (formerly The Scottish Salmon Company) - Scottish salmon's King of Death! https://t.co/Ju6L8xNZjw
How can 82.1% mortality (that's 4 in every 5 fish dying a cruel death) be branded "responsibly sourced"? @rspcaassured @ScotlandSalmon @Folketrygdfond pic.twitter.com/zc4OuDlw2x
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 26, 2022

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

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

Bakkafrost is Dead in the Water in Scotland - 2021 Annual Report Details "Deadly Cocktail"!

Media Backgrounder: Year of the Dead Salmon - Bakkafrost Scotland is the King of Death!

1.8 Million Morts Reported on Scottish Fish Farms Already in 2022!

Revealed: 30+ Million Dead Scottish Salmon Since 2017 - over 8 million morts reported last year & over half a million in first two weeks of 2022!!

Over 80% Mortality at The Scottish Salmon Company!!!

Mass Mortalities - 66% in one month at The Scottish Salmon Company on the Isle of Gigha!

Scottish Salmon Exposed - Photos highlight the disease & welfare nightmare at The Scottish Salmon Company!

Channel 4 News on Scottish Salmon Spying on Corin Smith!

Bakkafrost (Faroese/Norwegian owner of The 'Scottish' Salmon Company) set for hefty fine in the Faroes!

Salmongate: Corin Smith's 'Subject Access Requests' to the Salmafia Reveal Spying by Scottish Salmon!

The Spy Who Loved 'Scottish' Salmon - from Russia, Ukraine, Switzerland, Norway & the Faroes with Love for Salmoney!

Herald/Ferret: "Scottish Salmon Company chief hired investigator to 'snoop' on fish farming critic"

Video of France 5s 'The Truth About Salmon' featuring Mowi & The Scottish Salmon Company

STV News: "Thousands of rotting salmon ‘stink out’ village after mass death at farm"

X-Rated Video: 90% Mortality at The Faroese/Norwegian 'Scottish' Salmon Company?!

Photos of Welfare Abuse at The Scottish Salmon Company in Loch Carron (West Strome salmon farm)

Videos of Welfare Abuse at The Scottish Salmon Company in Loch Carron (West Strome salmon farm)

Animal Equality Exposes Scottish Salmon Slaughterhouse

Norwegian Government Asked to Divest from 'Unethical' & 'Irresponsible' Scottish Salmon!

Over 5 Million Dead 'Scottish' Salmon Since 2017 - Sponsored by Investors from Norway, the Faroes etc!

The Camera Never Lies About Scottish Salmon!

Photo Dossier of Diseased, Deformed & Abused Scottish Salmon

The Severely Damaged Scottish Salmon Company - For Sale Now!

Maaey day for the Scottish Salmon Company

Ground-truthing disease-ridden Scottish salmon

Mmmm Blind Scottish Salmon with Boils, Anyone?

Whistleblower Photos of The Scottish Salmon Company

New name: same mass deaths, disease & welfare abuse #Bakkafrost #ScottishSalmon
Unethical & morally bankrupt Bakkafrost is dead in the water in Scotland! @Folketrygdfond @NFdep @FerdOwner @ScotlandSalmon @Try_Lochlander @MairiGougeon @TavishScott @scotgp https://t.co/uqc2JDwH9G pic.twitter.com/F0SC8kFpOU
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 4, 2022

ADDENDUM:

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jan 27, 2023 at 10:50 AM
Subject: Clarification on FHI data added please?
To: <Neil.Purvis@gov.scot>

Neil,

It states via: https://www.gov.scot/publications/fish-health-inspectorate-case-information-2022/

Which data was added on 22 December 2022? All the other additions specify where data was added.

Thanks,

Don

From: <Neil.Purvis@gov.scot>
Date: Fri, Jan 27, 2023 at 12:37 PM
Subject: RE: Clarification on FHI data added please?
To: <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>

Hi Don

There were updates to May, June, August and September of 2022, as well as July and September 2021 and May, June, July, August and December 2020.

Thanks,

Neil

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jan 30, 2023 at 8:01 AM
Subject: FOI re. breaches of biosecurity in salmon farming since 1 September 2021
To: <CEU@gov.scot>

Please provide information relating to breaches of biosecurity in salmon farming since 1 September 2021 (please include salmon farms, hatcheries, processing plants, harvesting stations, well boats, trucks and other cases/incidents involving salmon farming and farmed salmon).

For example, a Fish Health Inspectorate Visit Report dated 23 November 2021 (published online by the Scottish Government on 22 December 2022) detailed how biosecurity measures were "inadequately implemented" at The Scottish Salmon Company/Bakkafrost Scotland in Loch Carron in September 2021 with a separate letter issued "regarding this issue".

Could you please therefore, as part of this FOI request, provide a copy of the letter referred to above?

Please also provide copies of any other letters relating to breaches of biosecurity in the salmon farming industry since 1 September 2021.

Please include emails, warning letters, legal information, enforcement, photos, video and any other information relating to breaches of biosecurity in the salmon farming industry since 1 September 2021.

Please consider this a formal request for information under the relevant FOI and Environmental Information regulations.

Please provide the information electronically.

Please provide a receipt.

Thanks,

Don Staniford

Director, $camon $cotland

Posted at 06:34 AM | Permalink

01/29/2023

Scotland On Sunday: "Locals fuming over rotten-egg stink and sealife destroyed as ‘toxic’ wreck remains beached in Scottish Highlands beauty spot"

Bakkafrost "may be liable for a criminal prosecution & we are aware that the police are investigating". "Our main worry is that this becomes a regular dumping ground for similar activities unless prosecutions are made by the environment agency or police" https://t.co/YEGa4WmYDd
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 29, 2023

Scotland On Sunday reported (29 January 2023):

Today's Scotland On Sunday: "Locals fuming over rotten-egg stink and sealife destroyed as ‘toxic’ wreck remains beached in Scottish Highlands beauty spot" https://t.co/34nr6PE8wB @Ilonaamos @TheScotsman @ScotlandSalmon @Folketrygdfond @marinescotland @ScottishEPA @Ianblackford_MP pic.twitter.com/K0Zfb9Vtwj
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 29, 2023

Whilst the Scotland On Sunday article is behind a paywall (you can bypass online here), MSN has the article in full online here

"Several important issues need to be considered – the environmental impact, social & human health impact & the seeming ability of these large companies to do as they wish without the authorities doing much to curb their activities" (Professor John Storey) https://t.co/34nr6PE8wB
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 29, 2023

Here's the newspaper version of today's Scotland On Sunday: "Locals fuming over rotten-egg stink and sealife destroyed as ‘toxic’ wreck remains beached in Scottish Highlands beauty spot" https://t.co/yR358ETEj5 @_KateForbes @ScottishEPA @ScotlandSalmon @tavishscott pic.twitter.com/NAm1xoHT4V
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 29, 2023

UPDATE:

Taking the Piss: photo of the leaking feed barge @GaelForceGroup beached in Loch Reraig (just outside Loch Carron MPA) - the highlighted green circles show lumps of rotting fish food seeping out & the local wildlife have been eating it! @ScottishEPA pic.twitter.com/rhkc9bdlwT
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 30, 2023

The Independent reported (1 February 2023):

‘Toxic’ barge that sank more than a year ago is still beached in a scenic bay @Independent https://t.co/wzM1OdqzdP @GaelForceGroup @ScotlandSalmon @HighlandCouncil @Ianblackford_MP
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 1, 2023

Photo Exclusive: Visit Scotland unveils their new 'Life's A Beach' campaign promoting tourism on the West coast of Scotland. This photo - titled 'Toxic Salmon Farming' shows a beached @GaelForceGroup barge which is now a tourist attraction in Loch Reraighttps://t.co/wzM1OdqzdP pic.twitter.com/InKTxgDoWA
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 2, 2023

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Feb 2, 2023 at 10:02 AM
Subject: Update on toxic feed barge dumped in Loch Reraig (just outside the Loch Carron MPA)
To: <scottish.ministers@gov.scot>, Briggs Marine <enquiries@briggsmarine.com>
Cc: Public Relations <public.relations@mcga.gov.uk>, <infoline@mcga.gov.uk>, Ian Blackford <ian.blackford.mp@parliament.uk>, John Finlayson (Councillor) <john.finlayson.cllr@highland.gov.uk>, Calum Munro (Councillor) <calum.munro.cllr@highland.gov.uk>, Drew Millar (Councillor) <Drew.Millar.cllr@highland.gov.uk>, Ruraidh Stewart (Councillor) <Ruraidh.Stewart.cllr@highland.gov.uk>, <chief.executive@highland.gov.uk>, <SFRS.Media@firescotland.gov.uk>, <sar.response@mcga.gov.uk>, Media <publicrelations@sepa.org.uk>, <marinepollution@nature.scot>, <ms.spillresponse@gov.scot>, <hpt.highland@nhs.scot>, <murdo.macaulay@mca.gov.uk>, <n.dundeecontrol@firescotland.gov.uk>, <navigation@nlb.org.uk>, <zone36@hmcg.gov.uk>, <enquiries@crownestatescotland.com>, Forbes K (Kate), MSP <Kate.Forbes.msp@parliament.scot>, <scc.mail@sepa.org.uk>, spillresponse@marlab.ac.uk <spillresponse@marlab.ac.uk>, <alert@maib.gov.uk>, <emergency.planning@highland.gov.uk>, <HQ_counterpollution@mcga.gov.uk>, <HQ_SOSrep@mcga.gov.uk>, <ahsh@sepa.org.uk>, Pollard, Peter <peter.pollard@sepa.org.uk>, Alex Turner <Alex.Turner@nature.scot>

Could you please provide an update on the toxic feed barge dumped since just before Xmas in Loch Reraig (just outside the Loch Carron MPA)?

$camon $cotland received just received this email (in reply to whether the toxic feed barge had been moved from Loch Reraig) from a concerned local living within sight of the dumped hazard:

From:
Date: Thu, Feb 2, 2023 at 8:39 AM
Subject: Re: Independent article
To: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Cc:

Don

No it hasn’t been moved. Once again they have failed to meet their promised deadlines for moving it and continue to try and fob us and the authorities off with excuses.

I believe it is convenience, incompetence and lack of proper management in this company that is the problem.

The new date is now 22nd February because nobody looked at the tide tables.

They continue to spill contaminated fish food on the beach. They admit it is toxic but that the readings are insignificant despite the obnoxious smell. They also admit they should have had a barrage around it to collect any spillage.

When I asked if any of the responsible authorities had been to inspect it. The man driving a desk in Edinburgh and responsible for this disaster said, ‘he didn’t know.’ You couldn’t make it up!!

It is very difficult to assess the impact on the wildlife but there has definitely been a reduction in the bird life.

We are hoping for more National press coverage and some action from SEPA, but none of the authorities seem to be taking it seriously and seem to believe everything Bakkafrost and their PR machine tell them is true.

Another concerned local also sent this email and photo on Sunday (29 January 2023):

From:
Date: Sun, Jan 29, 2023 at 6:16 PM
Subject: close up of the toxic barge
To: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>

Evening Don,

Just thought you might like to see this close-up of the beach surrounding the barge that our neighbour took the other day…. the highlighted green circles show lumps of rotting fish food that has clearly come from the barge… and the local wildlife have been eating it!

Photo 29 Jan 2023 Loch Reraig barge leaking feed

You may have read the article in yesterday's Independent:

‘Toxic’ barge that sank more than a year ago is still beached in a scenic bay

The Independent article includes a photo of the dumped feed barge on Loch Reraig beach:

Tweet via: https://twitter.com/TheGAAIA/status/1621041424946061312

The Independent article is a copy of Sunday's article by Ilona Amos:

Scotland On Sunday: "Locals fuming over rotten-egg stink and sealife destroyed as ‘toxic’ wreck remains beached in Scottish Highlands beauty spot"

This follows media coverage since the toxic barge has been dumped in Loch Reraig via:

Daily Record: "'Toxic' salmon farm barge dumped at scenic Scots bay could be spewing chemicals at loch - Locals are now fuming that the wreck has been beached in the middle of Reraig Bay"

WHFP: "Answers Sought on Loch Carron Fish Farm Barges"

Press & Journal: "Toxic sunken fish farm relocated to Wester Ross sparking fury amongst local residents"

The Scotsman: "Wrecked barge holding ‘toxic’ and potentially ‘explosive' gases is beached for decontamination operation in scenic Scottish Highland bay"

How much more negative media coverage will it take for the relevant authorities to take action?

The Scotland On Sunday article (29 January 2023) included:

Lou-Lou Troup and her husband Chris also have a home in Reraig. They feel they have been kept in the dark by Bakkafrost, which has repeatedly failed to meet its own target dates for uplifting the wreckage.

“We seem to be being regularly fobbed off with deadlines that Bakkafrost cannot keep,” Ms Troup said.

“The barge is still smelling of rotten eggs – hydrogen sulphide. There have never been any warnings of any risks involved, only platitudes about it being ‘safe’.

“We consider that, given the circumstances, the company may be liable for a criminal prosecution and we are aware that the police are investigating this.

“Our main worry is that this becomes a regular dumping ground for similar activities and situations like this unless prosecutions are made by the environment agency or the police.”

Tweet via: https://twitter.com/TheGAAIA/status/1619622081087565824

Which begs the questions:

What action is the Scottish Government, Police Scotland, Nature Scotland, SEPA, Maritime & Coastguard Agency, the Crown Estate Scotland, Highland Council or any other agency taking to bring this toxic saga to an end?

When will the toxic feed barge be removed from Loch Reraig?

Will Bakkafrost be fined over their systematic failures since the feed barge sank in November 2021?

According to Marine Traffic, the Viking Saga (understood to be the ship used by Bakkafrost to siphon off and transport away the ca. 690 tons of contaminated feed and water - to an anaerobic digestion plant in Aberdeenshire) is now in Fraserburgh (it seems to have made at least three runs from Loch Reraig to offload the contaminated wastes in Fraserburgh).

It is understood that the salvage barge and crane hired by Bakkafrost (Matador 3/Bonn-Mees) left in late December 2022 for another job in Ireland - and that Bakkafrost was incurring £81,000 per day in crane/barge hire: Bakkafrost Haemorrhages $almoney - salvage of 'toxic' & 'explosive' feed barge costs "a cool million odd" with £81K per day in crane hire fees!

Plockton fisherman Duncan McAndrew questioned Bakkafrost's version of events in terms of dumping the feed barge in Loch Reraig:

Detailed via: Bakkafrost's Toxic Feed Barge Still Dumped in Loch Reraig!

As $camon $cotland pointed out in our letter to Scottish Ministers dated 18 November 2022:

The fact that it still stinks of rotten eggs - and Bakkafrost's toxic feed barge is still causing a public nuisance and raising community concerns - illustrates just how much of a clusterf*ck the Scottish Government and other agencies are presiding over.

Please come together to end this Viking Saga (Bakkafrost's largest shareholder is the Norwegian Government as represented by Folketrygdfondet).

Best fishes,

Don Staniford

Director, $camon $cotland

Bakkafrost "continue to spill contaminated fish food on the beach...They admit it is toxic but that the readings are insignificant despite the obnoxious smell. They also admit they should have had a barrage around it to collect any spillage" pic.twitter.com/e1fPaKpHsl
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 2, 2023

Bakkafrost "have failed to meet their promised deadlines & continue to try & fob us & the authorities off with excuses. I believe it is incompetence & lack of proper management that is the problem. The new date is now 22nd Feb because nobody looked at the tide tables" @scotgov pic.twitter.com/FwlEqsXXFf
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 2, 2023

Here's photos taken in Loch Reraig by an angry tourist on 3 February 2023:

Sneak Preview of Visit Scotland's 2023 brochure for the Wester Ross Coastal Trail - featuring Bakkafrost's toxic barge dumped in Loch Reraig (sponsored by Norway's Ministry of Tourism @Folketrygdfond). A welcome addition to Anthrax Island off Gruinard! #Toxic #Tourism @theSNP pic.twitter.com/9fV2jUllp0
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 6, 2023

What a lovely view to have through your living room!

Bakkafrost and Briggs Marine are still fighting in court over the salvage operation!

Read the legal documents online here

Undercurrent News reported (15 February 2023):

UPDATE (21/22 February 2023):

A feed barge (which sank off Portree in Nov 2021) being towed from Loch Reraig (where it was dumped before Xmas) into Loch Carron. "The barge is being transported to Strome for holding & inspection with the @MCA_media before tow to another Bakkafrost location" said Bakkafrost pic.twitter.com/GQm3QxGKmc
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 21, 2023

Photos taken this morning at Bakkafrost's Strome salmon farm in Loch Carron - where the Green Isle, Aqua Reflex & Viking Saga are busy salvaging the @GaelForceGroup feed barge which sank off Portree during Storm Arwen in November 2021 @MCA_media @marinescotland @CrownEstateScot pic.twitter.com/AHY2q9yB4d
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 22, 2023

Bakkafrost have "reduced explosive risk & toxic risk to the public to zero and no exclusion zone is therefore necessary"

WHFP: "Answers Sought on Loch Carron Fish Farm Barges"

Ross-shire Journal: "Kyle RNLI crew's first shout of 2023 following fire at Bakkafrost's Strome salmon farm in Loch Carron"

Smoking Scottish Salmon - Fire at Bakkafrost Feed Barge in Loch Carron Fuels Local Opposition!

Daily Record: "'Toxic' salmon farm barge dumped at scenic Scots bay could be spewing chemicals at loch - Locals are now fuming that the wreck has been beached in the middle of Reraig Bay"

Bakkafrost Haemorrhages $almoney - salvage of 'toxic' & 'explosive' feed barge costs "a cool million odd" with £81K per day in crane hire fees!

Press & Journal: "Toxic sunken fish farm relocated to Wester Ross sparking fury amongst local residents"

The Scotsman: "Wrecked barge holding ‘toxic’ and potentially ‘explosive' gases is beached for decontamination operation in scenic Scottish Highland bay"

Photos: Toxic Feed Barge Dumped Illegally in Loch Reraig (near Loch Carron MPA)?

Police Scotland FOI disclosure on toxic feed barge off Portree - now beached in Kishorn?

Public Health Scotland FOI: "an explosive risk.....supportive of the path closure" (but still no warning to the public)

FOI disclosure by Maritime & Coastguard Agency (8 December 2022) - more documents on the 'toxic' & 'explosive' feed barge sunk off Portree!

Mowi's "totally appalling levels of safety, COPFS are going to prosecute" (says Maritime & Coastguard Agency in FOI disclosure)

Update: Toxic Feed Barge Salvaged Off Portree Heading to Loch Carron & then Ardyne!

WHFP: "Questions over fish-feed barge safety measures"

Photos of Portree Salvage Operation (next stop is Kishorn)

FOI Floodgates Open on "Explosive" Feed Barge Incident - document dump from Northern Lighthouse Board shines spotlight on salvage operation

P&J: "Stink raised over release of toxic chemicals from sunken fish farm barge off Skye"

Gael Force's Sinking Feeling: barges scuppered by bad weather or is the 'greed of feed' to blame?

Letter to Scottish Ministers re. "Explosive" Scottish Salmon - Please Defuse the Toxic Time-Bomb!

The Times: "Secret plans to evacuate island homes over toxic gas"

Risk Assessment Highlighted 'High' Risk of Exposure to Public from Toxic Hydrogen Sulphide Gases - Why the f*ck was there no public warning?

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

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!

Bakkafrost is Dead in the Water in Scotland - 2021 Annual Report Details "Deadly Cocktail"!

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

"Explosive" FOI disclosure @ScottishEPA on Toxic Gases Spewing from The Scottish Salmon Co (Bakkafrost) off Skye! https://t.co/ZuJ147DRec
Hydrogen Sulphide detected at 55,000 ppm "which puts the gas into explosive range" @ScotlandSalmon @GaelForceGroup @_KateForbes @MairiMcAllan pic.twitter.com/oBbuHr430j
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 8, 2022

Posted at 07:23 AM | Permalink

01/27/2023

Mowi's Piscichlamydia & Poxvirus Problems Exposed!

'Case Information' slipped out by the Scottish Government on 16 January 2023 makes for grim reading of shareholders in Norwegian behemoth Mowi.

Ouch - Piscichlamydia ravages Mowi's Marulaig Bay salmon farm. Inspection report @scotgov details 150,000+ morts, Amoebic Gill Disease, Proliferative Gill Disease, Tenacibaculum, Branchiomonas, Necrosis & Poxvirus @MowiScotlandLtd @rspcaassured @tavishscott @ASC_aqua @WHFP1 pic.twitter.com/EfW211x8Ef
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 27, 2023

The report of Piscichlamydia in Mowi's farmed salmon - sourced from a Patogen diagnostic report - is particularly embarrassing for $almafia lobbyist Tavish Scott who on BBC Scotland's 'The Nine' in April 2021 denied millions of Scottish salmon were dying due to infectious diseases such as Chlamydia, Anaemia, Lice Infestation and other problems (as exposed by Netflix's 'Seaspiracy' documentary).

World Exclusive: @tavishscott denies Scottish salmon die in their millions due to infectious diseases like Chlamydia, Lice Infestation, Heart Disease & Anaemia @ScotlandSalmon
Meanwhile @scotgov data reveals Scottish salmon dying in their millions due to infectious diseases! pic.twitter.com/flqTdzuOWT
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 27, 2023

Here's details of an inspection by the Fish Health Inspectorate in October 2022 of Mowi's ASC-certified and RSPCA Assured Marulaig Bay salmon farm in South Uist (Case 2022-0481) including over 150,000 mortalities, Amoebic Gill Disease, Proliferative Gill Disease, Tenacibaculum, Branchiomonas, Poxvirus and Piscichlamydia:

Case 2022-0481 details how mortalities are picked by Whiteshore Cockles for illegal disposal in North Uist:

Case 2022-0481 details how Mowi's ASC-certified and RSPCA Assured salmon farm at Marulaig Bay in South Uist are loaded with up to 10 lice:

Case 2022-0481 includes a Fish Health Inspectorate Visit Report dated 3 November 2022 - detailing extensive disease problems at Mowi's ASC-certified and RSPCA Assured salmon farm at Marulaig Bay in South Uist including chronic hyperplasic branchitis, complex gill issues, vascular disturbance, Amoebic Gill Disease, myocarditis, hepatic necrosis, Vibrio, Salmonid alphavirus, Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis, Piscine Reovirus, Paranucleospora theridion, Salmon Gill Poxvirus and Neoparamoeba perurans:

Case 2022-0481 included a letter to Mowi from the Scottish Government dated 20 October 2022 pointing out that movement records were "inadequately maintained" at Marulaig Bay (certified as "responsible" by the ASC in June 2022):

Case 2022-0481 included photos of samples of farmed salmon taken by the Fish Health Inspectorate illustrating Mowi's disease problems including Amoebic Gill Disease, Proliferative Gill Disease, Tenacibaculum, Branchiomonas, Poxvirus and Piscichlamydia:

The mere mention of the word 'Chlamydia' had $almafia lobbyist Tavish Scott frothing at the mouth when he appeared on BBC Scotland's 'The Nine' show in April 2021 (to debate Netflix's 'Seaspiracy'):

MILLIONS of farmed salmon are dying from lice infestations, chlamydia, heart disease, anaemia etc.

The CEO of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation @SSPOsays, Mr @TavishScott says it's a

"Pack of lies".

Make up you own mind who's the LIAR here. pic.twitter.com/C0T1aId4pn
— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) April 19, 2021

"Let's look at some of the specific claims this documentary [Netflix's Seaspiracy] makes," said BBC Scotland's Martin Geissler in April 2021. "Don was talking there about the moment he climbs up a ladder and looks into a tank full of dead fish, it's what they call a mortality bin. It's like a skip of dead fish. It's not entirely clear in the wording of the documentary what percentage of the fish that are farmed end up in there but they're suggesting it's a lot. They say they die from lice infestatations, Chlamydia, heart disease, anaemia."

"No, no," interupted $almafia lobbyist Tavish Scott.

"Is that true?" asked the BBC's Martin Geissler.

"No, it's absolutely not true," replied Tavish Scott. "It's one of the pack of lies that these extreme activists produce all the time, Martin. I am disappointed the BBC is giving it air time to this pack of lies tonight".

Tavish Scott @SSPOsays denies millions of Scottish salmon are dying from lice infestation & infectious diseases @seaspiracy @BBCScotNine
Yet, data published by @marinescotland shows millions of #Scottish #salmon die due to infectious diseases! https://t.co/L0V3L4ubNu #Liar #Lies pic.twitter.com/feFSb4NTw8
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 7, 2021

Two Chlamydiales have previously been found to infect Atlantic salmon, Candidatus Piscichlamydia salmonis and Candidatus Clavichlamydia salmonicola. Both develop intracellularly in cyst-like inclusions in gill cells, generally referred to as epitheliocysts https://t.co/dvjfuA7JWL
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 6, 2021

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in April 2021:

Scottish Salmon & The 'C' Word (that's Chlamydia not the Clap)! https://t.co/lYtFBlZaoL
What hidden extras are lurking in your Scottish salmon? @scotseafarms @salmon_scottish @rspcaassured @ASC_aqua @GriegShetland @ScotlandMowi @LochDuartSalmon @tavishscott @SSPOsays @coopuk pic.twitter.com/dWkE7fjM9i
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 7, 2021

$camon $cotland reported last week (20 January 2023):

Based upon information published on 9 January 2023 by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate (data up to the end of November 2022), here's the most deadly sea cage salmon farms in Scotland during 2022 - plagued by disease problems such as Rickettsia, Heart & Skeletal Muscle Inflammation, Amoebic Gill Disease, Salmon Gill Poxvirus, Pancreas Disease, Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis, Furunculosis, Piscine Reovirus, Vibrio and Sea Lice:

RSPCA Assured Mowi features prominently in Scottish salmon's 2022 'League of Death' - with 335,921 dead fish reported at Seaforth salmon farm on the Isle of Lewis via 13 'Mortality Event Reports' and 334,998 dead fish at Stulaigh salmon farm in South Uist via 7 'Mortality Event Reports':

Mowi's Seaforth salmon farm was not awarded ASC certification during 2022 ("decision by certificate holder to voluntarily cancel") and Mowi's Stulaigh salmon farm was awarded ASC certification in June 2022.

Other ASC-certified and RSPCA Assured Mowi salmon farms reporting irresponsible levels of mortalities include Marulaig Bay with 185,254 dead fish via 6 'Mortality Event Reports'; Muck with 182,214 dead fish via 6 'Mortality Event Reports' and Ardintoul with 227,610 dead fish via 10 'Mortality Event Reports':

$camon $cotland reported in September 2022:

EXPOSED: Mowi's Mortality Nightmare - 59.5% death rate @rspcaassured Loch Greshornish & 55.9% death rate @ASC_aqua Greanem (Grey Horse Outer) @ScotlandSalmon https://t.co/OAfRglN8zB
How can Mowi's salmon be marketed as "responsibly sourced"? @sainsburys @Tesco @ASA_UK #Scamon pic.twitter.com/0bshm1oXbX
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 26, 2022

No wonder Mowi wants to keep the public away from their disease-ridden feedlots!

STV News: "Given the gruesome nature of welfare abuse, mass mortalities & lice infestations it is not surprising that this Norwegian-owned behemoth wants to stop the public from finding out the ugly truth about Scottish salmon" https://t.co/HlRWu4RmVO @STVNews @giannilmarini pic.twitter.com/o8kveENGsj
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 11, 2021

And no wonder that Mowi is paying £1.3 million to advertise during ITV's 'Next Level Chef':

.@GordonRamsay @PaulAinsw6rth and @nyeshajoyce - the chefs and restaurants committed to NOT serving unsustainable farmed salmon are the true #NextLevelChefUK champions.

A quick look below the surface at a farm run by your sponsor @MowiScotlandLtd shows why... #Offthetable pic.twitter.com/n5WMdikAbb
— WildFish (@WildFishCons) January 11, 2023

Monsanto or McDonald's would be better brands to be associated with than Norwegian salmon farming giant Mowi @GordonRamsay @WeAreSTV #NextLevelChef https://t.co/IecaZ6IBA2
I'd rather eat the crap at the bottom of a budgie cage than Mowi's 'responsibly sourced' Scottish salmon! pic.twitter.com/ENi6qX9Qni
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 10, 2023

Mowi pay £1.3 million to sponsor new ITV Gordon Ramsay show Next Level Chef? @TheGrocer https://t.co/1SvXfPR5o5 @GordonRamsay @ITV @MowiScotlandLtd @GordonRamsayGRR @NextLevelFOX @nyeshajoyce @TemiTysKitchen @PaulAinsworth8 #NextLevelChef #Salmoney #Salmobsters #Greenwashing
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 2, 2023

Named & Shamed: Scotland's Most Deadly Salmon Farms in 2022 (as sponsored by RSPCA Assured & the ASC)!

Annus Horribilis Salmonis: Mowi's "Troublesome Year" in Scotland - 22% fall in production!

21% Mortality at Mowi's ASC-Certified & RSPCA Assured Marulaig Bay & Rum in ONE WEEK!!!

56% Mortality at RSPCA Assured Mowi (but don't worry, it's certified as "farmed responsibly" by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council)!

Exposed: 10 Million Morts at RSPCA Assured Mowi Since 2019!

Charitable Warning: Mowi's Salmon Wagon is Hitting the Road Again - there's no such thing as a free farmed fish lunch!

Mowi's "Woes in Scotland" - Disease & Deaths Cause £5.6 Million Losses!

Over 80% Mortality at The Scottish Salmon Company!!!

Coming Clean on Welfare Abuse of Cleaner Fish - FOI lifts lid on 100% mortality of wrasse at The Scottish Salmon Company (& over half a million dead salmon)!

ASC-Certified/Audited Mass Mortalities Pile Up at Lousy Mowi & Scottish Sea Farms!

Open letter to the ASC: Please cancel all certification of Mowi's toxic Scottish salmon!

Mowi's 'Host' With the Most....Toxic Chemicals & Antibiotics (certified as "responsibly farmed" by the ASC)!

ASC cancel Mowi certifications due to exceedances of antibiotics use, escape & "administrative reasons"!

Press Release: "Secret Filming Exposes Welfare Abuse at RSPCA Assured Mowi - Campaigners call for Mowi to be fined & RSPCA certification rescinded"

"Nothing to see here - everything is positive!"
$almafia lobbyist @tavishscott is fighting a losing battle against the truth - straight out of the Comical Ali (Iraq's Information Minister) PR playbook
Read mort data @ScotlandSalmon in black & white via https://t.co/kjNDyAMOzI pic.twitter.com/GkScuVxQMI
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 27, 2023

Posted at 06:54 AM | Permalink

01/26/2023

Horror Photos Exposes Welfare Abuse at Lousy Loch Duart - "an industry leader in welfare" & certified via RSPCA Assured!

Quiz Question: Which @rspcaassured salmon farm is this lice-infested fish sourced from?
Clue: This RSPCA Assured company claims "Fish welfare is at the heart of everything we do" and they're "an industry leader in welfare" @LochDuartSalmon @ScotlandSalmon #LochDuart #RSPCA pic.twitter.com/iRoCETamsN
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 26, 2023

Here's a Fish Health Inspectorate report - slipped out by the Scottish Government on 16 January 2023 - relating to an inspection of Loch Duart's RSPCA Assured salmon farm in Loch Carnan in October 2022.

Horror Photos Exposes Welfare Abuse at Lousy Loch Duart - "an industry leader in welfare" & certified via @rspcaassured! @LochDuartSalmon @ScotlandSalmon
Please join the global boycott - it's time to take Scottish salmon off the table! @WildFishCons @the_gsfr @ciwf @onekindtweet pic.twitter.com/PK4J7GluFo
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 26, 2023

Case 2022-0469 includes gruesome photos; details of fish infested with 15 to 50 lice; over 200,000 mortalities; Hydrogen Peroxide treatments; and infectious diseases including Anaemia, Heart & Skeletal Muscle Inflammation (Piscine Reovirus), Amoebic Gill Disease, Complex Gill Diseaseas, Epitheliocystis, Salmon Gill Poxvirus, Paranucelospora theridion, Moritella viscosa and Vibrio:

Breaking News: Jellyfish ravage Loch Duart's @rspcaassured Scottish salmon in unprovoked attack leaving the "industry leader in welfare" in tatters @LochDuartSalmon @ScotlandSalmon
In other industry news @tavishscott blames seals for eating his homework #Scapegoat #Jellyfish pic.twitter.com/2rbUSZKiWe
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 26, 2023

Case 2022-0469 includes a Fish Health Inspectorate Visit Report dated 3 November 2022 detailing an inspection on 5 October 2022 at Loch Duart's salmon farm in Loch Carnan:

Case 2022-0469 includes gruesome photos of Loch Duart's RSPCA Assured Scottish salmon:

Another case report (2022-0572) published by the Fish Health Inspectorate on 16 January 2023 details disease and over 100,000 mortalities at RSPCA Assured Loch Duart's salmon farm in the Sound of Harris found during an inspection in November 2022:

Here's leaked video footage of Loch Duart morts dumped at Whiteshore Cockles:

The Scottish Government Fish Health Inspectorate case report 2022-0572 continues - with reference to Amoebic Gill Disease, Proliferative Gill Disease, Piscine Reovirus, Salmon Gill Poxvirus, Brachiomonas and Paranucleospora theridion:

The Scottish Government Fish Health Inspectorate case report 2022-0572 includes photos taken by inspectors during the visit in November 2022:

$camon $cotland reported in September 2022:

Loch Duart's marketing slogan is "unrivalled Scottish salmon" (it used to be "the Sustainable Salmon Company" but that was dropped after @ASA_UK invervention) - 50.3% mortality @rspcaassured in the Sound of Harris beats most of their rivals for sure! @ScotlandSalmon @RSPCAChris pic.twitter.com/YKdu04E3Dg
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 27, 2022

$camon $cotland reported last week (20 January 2023):

RSPCA Assured Loch Duart is another company suffering from mass mortalities during 2022 with 249,640 dead fish reported in Loch Carnan via 14 'Mortality Event Reports' and 132,184 dead fish reported in Loch Laxford via 9 'Mortality Event Reports'.

The Worst of the Worst @ScotlandSalmon - headed by 55.9% mortality in September @LochDuartSalmon in Loch Carnan: that's over half the fish dying in 30 days!!https://t.co/kjNDyAMOzI
But don't worry, Loch Duart is @rspcaassured - nothing to see here! https://t.co/UzZDt5a2qZ #RSPCA pic.twitter.com/6KKtrNoIsq
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 9, 2022

Anyone for @rspcaassured Loch Duart salmon fresh from Loch Laxford? Comes with Salmon Gill Poxvirus, Heart & Skeletal inflammation, Piscine reovirus, hyperplasic branchitis, vascular disturbance, haemorrhage & Bacterial dermatitis @LochDuartSalmon @ScotlandSalmon @TavishScott pic.twitter.com/qMbkN2bn4t
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 18, 2022

Exposed: Loch Duart's RSPCA Assured 'Healthy' Salmon (packed with viruses, diseases & bacteria)!

Unsatisfactory Biosecurity: Disease Control 'Improvement' & 'Further Investigation' Required at Processing Plants Operated by Mowi & Loch Duart

Telegraph: "Cop26 organisers roasted for serving ‘environmentally unfriendly’ salmon"

COP26 caterers sourcing farmed salmon from company with appalling environmental record!

Loch Duart drops "sustainable" claim after advertising ruling

Loch Duart buying salmon farms on the Isle of Skye owned by Scottish Sea Farms (Norskott Havbruk) is like Trotters Indepedent Traders taking over Ratners! @LochDuartSalmon @scotseafarms @GriegShetland @ScotlandSalmon pic.twitter.com/XoGqYLH8jh
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 27, 2023

Posted at 12:30 PM | Permalink

01/25/2023

Bakkafrost's Toxic Feed Barge Still Dumped in Loch Reraig!

Photo Exclusive: Bakkafrost's toxic barge @GaelForceGroup - which contained ca. 690 tons of contaminated feed & water - is still dumped in Loch Reraig just outside the Loch Carron MPA @nature_scot @ScottishEPA @MCA_media @marinescotland @HighlandCouncil @ScotlandSalmon pic.twitter.com/Yl46WmQHMX
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 25, 2023

Here's a photo taken on Monday (23 January 2023) in Loch Reraig - just outside Loch Carron Marine Protected Area - where Norwegian/Faroese salmon farming giant have dumped a toxic feed barge since before Xmas:

"We have been in contact with Bakkafrost who have given us two deadlines for moving the barge - which unsurprisingly have passed - and have given us various excuses as to why this has not happened! This pic shows the scene yesterday…it all looks very hazardous" @ScottishEPA pic.twitter.com/ePHRQfh0V8
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 25, 2023

Download photo as a PDF online here

Here's another photo showing how close the toxic - and formerly "explosive" feed barge - is to locals living on the shore of Loch Reraig:

If you lived in these houses overlooking this toxic - and formerly "explosive" feed barge - perhaps you would have a few wee concerns? @HighlandCouncil @ScottishEPA @_KateForbes @Ianblackford_MP
How long will it be dumed in Loch Reraig? @scotgov @marinescotland @MairiGougeon pic.twitter.com/t2Kxbu4uv5
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 25, 2023

Download high res image online here

A local source told $camon $cotland yesterday (24 January 2023):

"We have been in contact with Bakkafrost who have given us two deadlines for moving the barge - which unsurprisingly have passed - and have given us various excuses as to why this has not happened! Their plan has been to empty the barge of the contaminated fish food, then re-float it and tow it round to Lochcarron to beach it with the other barge and then tow them both away….This pic shows the scene yesterday… it all looks very hazardous."

Another local source told $camon $cotland on 12 January 2023:

"I have been told by Bakkafrost that the plan is to remove the remainder of the waste into the Viking Saga then tow it round to North Strome and then with the other damaged feed barge tow them both away for repair. I suspect that the Viking Saga cannot get alongside because of the depth (they have tried and the tide is going back now) so they will have to float it into deeper water to do the job, which is supposed to be done by Sunday. The toxic feed barge does, apparently, float slightly at high water so this new vessel will probably be using lift bags to then move it in to deeper water. I am also told that only 5 parts to one million of H2S remain and it is not a danger to life. It just smells of rotting eggs!! I shall be glad when its gone, if it goes."

For the last two weeks (since at least 9 January 2023), the Viking Saga has been lurking off Loch Reraig (as shown by Marine Traffic):

Here's photos of the Viking Saga in Loch Reraig in January 2023:

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency told $camon $cotland on 11 January 2023:

Fish Farming Expert reported (11 January 2023):

$camon Scotland reported (9 January 2023):

Bakkafrost have "reduced explosive risk & toxic risk to the public to zero & no exclusion zone is therefore necessary" says @marinescotland @scotgov "The Master had concerns for the safety of his vessel" @Folketrygdfond @ScotlandSalmon @ScottishEPA @MairiMcAllan @GaelForceGroup pic.twitter.com/nbVggKpAhu
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 9, 2023

$camon $cotland reported (5 January 2023):

"As of 15 December 2022, some waste is still in the hold of the barge" says @ScottishEPA in a FOI reply today. "Any remaining waste feed and water has been sealed inside" @Folketrygdfond @ScotlandSalmon https://t.co/wPYRsActR5 pic.twitter.com/WDwM4uSSL7
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 5, 2023

The West Highland Free Press reported (5 January 2023):

"It is unfortunate that the company did not undertake consultation before they parked it here" said Helen Merchison, chair of Lochcarron Community Council @WHFP1 "The community would appreciate knowing what the future plans are and when the barge will be moving on" pic.twitter.com/NxTAU7nFh6
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 5, 2023

The Daily Record reported (26 December 2022):

'Toxic salmon farm barge dumped at scenic Scots bay could be spewing chemicals @Daily_Record https://t.co/lB5NkjJORT @Folketrygdfond @ScotlandSalmon @HighlandCouncil @MCA_media @scotgov @marinescotland @GaelForceGroup @rendabelle
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 26, 2022

The Scotsman reported (21 December 2022):

Plockton fisherman Duncan McAndrew posted on Facebook:

WHFP: "Answers Sought on Loch Carron Fish Farm Barges"

Ross-shire Journal: "Kyle RNLI crew's first shout of 2023 following fire at Bakkafrost's Strome salmon farm in Loch Carron"

Smoking Scottish Salmon - Fire at Bakkafrost Feed Barge in Loch Carron Fuels Local Opposition!

Daily Record: "'Toxic' salmon farm barge dumped at scenic Scots bay could be spewing chemicals at loch - Locals are now fuming that the wreck has been beached in the middle of Reraig Bay"

Bakkafrost Haemorrhages $almoney - salvage of 'toxic' & 'explosive' feed barge costs "a cool million odd" with £81K per day in crane hire fees!

Press & Journal: "Toxic sunken fish farm relocated to Wester Ross sparking fury amongst local residents"

The Scotsman: "Wrecked barge holding ‘toxic’ and potentially ‘explosive' gases is beached for decontamination operation in scenic Scottish Highland bay"

Photos: Toxic Feed Barge Dumped Illegally in Loch Reraig (near Loch Carron MPA)?

Police Scotland FOI disclosure on toxic feed barge off Portree - now beached in Kishorn?

Public Health Scotland FOI: "an explosive risk.....supportive of the path closure" (but still no warning to the public)

FOI disclosure by Maritime & Coastguard Agency (8 December 2022) - more documents on the 'toxic' & 'explosive' feed barge sunk off Portree!

Mowi's "totally appalling levels of safety, COPFS are going to prosecute" (says Maritime & Coastguard Agency in FOI disclosure)

Update: Toxic Feed Barge Salvaged Off Portree Heading to Loch Carron & then Ardyne!

WHFP: "Questions over fish-feed barge safety measures"

Photos of Portree Salvage Operation (next stop is Kishorn)

FOI Floodgates Open on "Explosive" Feed Barge Incident - document dump from Northern Lighthouse Board shines spotlight on salvage operation

P&J: "Stink raised over release of toxic chemicals from sunken fish farm barge off Skye"

Gael Force's Sinking Feeling: barges scuppered by bad weather or is the 'greed of feed' to blame?

Letter to Scottish Ministers re. "Explosive" Scottish Salmon - Please Defuse the Toxic Time-Bomb!

The Times: "Secret plans to evacuate island homes over toxic gas"

Risk Assessment Highlighted 'High' Risk of Exposure to Public from Toxic Hydrogen Sulphide Gases - Why the f*ck was there no public warning?

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

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!

Bakkafrost is Dead in the Water in Scotland - 2021 Annual Report Details "Deadly Cocktail"!

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

"Explosive" FOI disclosure @ScottishEPA on Toxic Gases Spewing from The Scottish Salmon Co (Bakkafrost) off Skye! https://t.co/ZuJ147DRec
Hydrogen Sulphide detected at 55,000 ppm "which puts the gas into explosive range" @ScotlandSalmon @GaelForceGroup @_KateForbes @MairiMcAllan pic.twitter.com/oBbuHr430j
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 8, 2022

Posted at 08:37 AM | Permalink

01/24/2023

Certifiable: The ASC Greenwashes Deadly Nevis Salmon Farms as 'Responsible' (despite 200,000 morts, lice infestation & infectious diseases)!

Quiz Question: Which factory feedlot certified as 'welfare friendly' @rspcaassured & 'responsible' @ASC_aqua are these farmed salmon beauties sourced from?
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
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 23, 2023

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
Inspection report @marinescotland details Heart & Skeletal Muscle Inflammation (Piscine Reovirus), Epitheliocystis & Salmon Gill Poxvirus pic.twitter.com/QsfoavGhNM
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 24, 2023

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

sam.dignan@lrqa.com

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:

https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/transparency-data/2022/03/fish-health-inspectorate-case-information-2022/documents/october-2022/case-20220528-20220532/case-20220528-20220532/govscot%3Adocument/Cases%2B20220528-20220532.pdf

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:

64% Mortality at RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms in Loch Nevis - as sold by M&S as "responsibly sourced"?!!

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

sam.dignan@lrqa.com

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):

Named & Shamed: Scotland's Most Deadly Salmon Farms in 2022 (as sponsored by RSPCA Assured & the ASC)!

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:

Deadly Data: Scottish Salmon Mortalities Double to 15 Million+ in 2022 (but full disclosure of mort numbers would be "commercially damaging" say industry lobbyists)

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:

64% Mortality at RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms in Loch Nevis - as sold by M&S as "responsibly sourced"?!!

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
WTF? @rspcaassured @ScotlandSalmon pic.twitter.com/0NxtnuiUby
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 7, 2022

$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

The ASC Runs Out of Greenwash: "Certification Not Awarded" at five salmon farms operated by Mowi & Scottish Sea Farms

Greenwashing by the Deadly ASC (Abominable Salmon Council) Leaps to Over 30 Fish Farms - with another 17 waiting to be rubber-stamped!

Named & Shamed: Scotland's Most Deadly Salmon Farms in 2022 (as sponsored by RSPCA Assured & the ASC)!

64% Mortality at RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms in Loch Nevis - as sold by M&S as "responsibly sourced"?! (& ASC-certified as 'responsible')

74% Mortality Reported by RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms (Supplier to M&S) in Loch Nevis - soon to be ASC-certified as 'responsible'!

Abominable Salmon Certification - the Aquaculture Stewardship Council is Sponsoring Serial Killing in Scotland!

Scottish Scamon: Piscine Reovirus, skin lesions/boils & "hanging" salmon in Loch Creran (sold by M&S as "responsibly sourced" & certified via RSPCA Assured)!

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"

Video: Norskott Havbruk (Scottish Sea Farms) is a Sham, Scam & Consumer Con - Stop Salmon Farming Now!

The Times: "RSPCA investigates Scottish salmon supplier to M&S over lice accusations"

RSPCA Assured "now investigating" welfare abuse at Scottish Sea Farms in the Sound of Mull & Loch Creran!

Video Exclusive: Secret Filming Exposes Horrific Welfare Abuse Inside RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon Farms

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)!

Anyone for M&S’s Virus-Laden Scottish Salmon (don’t worry, it’s “responsibly sourced” & RSPCA Assured)?!

It’s Official: Infectious Salmon Anaemia Back to Haunt Scottish Salmon - reported to the World Organization for Animal Health for the first time since 2012!

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!

ISA hits Scottish Sea Farms owner SalMar in Norway - how many hidden cases are lurking on salmon farms in Scotland?

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"

RSPCA Sponsored Welfare Abuse of Salmon Farms - A Guide to Getting Away with Mass Murder (Theriocide)!

Video Scoop: RSPCA Assured Diseased Salmon from M&S

Herald On Sunday: "Scottish M&S supplier blames seals for salmon wounds as RSPCA Assured status is suspended"

RSPCA Suspends Spelve Salmon Farm & 'Urgently Investigates' M&S Supplier Scottish Sea Farms!

Secret Filming Exposes RSPCA ‘Abused’ Scottish Salmon - Welfare Complaint Filed Against 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!

Herald: "Scottish salmon found in ‘sickening’ conditions across Scotland as sea lice problem escalates"

Video Exposes Welfare Abuse at RSPCA Assured salmon farm sourced by M&S 'Lochmuir'

Caveat Emptor - M&S's Fake 'Lochmuir' Scottish Salmon (sourced from Norwegian-owned Scottish Sea Farms)

"Over 50" Lice Per Fish at Scottish Sea Farms in Loch Kishorn

Sick 'Scottish' Sea Farms

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:

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
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,

Suffice to say that you make a good point re. the ASC's definition of 'responsible'; namely:

I just Tweeted your statement via: https://twitter.com/TheGAAIA/status/1618152004307812352

The ASC's watered-down definition of 'responsible' is the reason behind complaints filed with the ASA and Trading Standards:

Advertising Complaint Vs Sainsbury's "Responsibly Sourced" Scottish Salmon

Irresponsibly Farmed Scottish Salmon - Complaints Filed Vs Supermarkets with Advertising & Trading Standards!

In terms of "proper avenues for stakeholders to engage with ASC audits", I have copied in FMS, WildFish and CCN who may choose to raise various issues as stakeholders.

$camon $cotland will continue to lobby against ASC-certification from the outside and take the view that the certification of mass mortalities, lice infestation, infectious diseases and use of toxic chemicals as 'responsible' is morally reprehensible and completely irresponsible.

It also beggars belief that LRQA are happy to be party to such an ethically bankrupt standard.

Best fishes,

Don

Posted at 06:40 AM | Permalink

01/23/2023

Greenwash Alert: The ASC's New 'Salmon Standard' (Version 1.4) Rolls Out on 1st February!

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council's new 'Salmon Standard' (Version 1.4) becomes effective on 1 February 2023.

Greenwash Alert: The ASC's New 'Salmon Standard' (Version 1.4) Rolls Out on 1st February! @ASC_aqua https://t.co/9OJsJ3KjlQ #Greenwashing #Toxic #Salmon #Pharming pic.twitter.com/XDeaW0x69P
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 23, 2023

As greenwashing schemes go, the ASC's 'Salmon Standard' is up there with the best (i.e. the worst).

The ASC - dubbed the 'Abominable Salmon Council' - is the spawn of the devil: an unholy alliance between WWF and the $almafia (as represented by Mowi/Marine Harvest, Nutreco and other salmon farming interests) with over 30 salmon farms in Scotland already greenwashed and another 17 salmon farms waiting in the wings for their coats of green paint.

The ASC - dubbed the Abominable Salmon Council - is the spawn of the devil: an unholy alliance between WWF & the $almafia (as represented by Mowi/Marine Harvest, Nutreco & other salmon farming interests) @ASC_aqua @MowiScotlandLtd @WWF @Nutreco @sainsburys https://t.co/9OJsJ3JLwi pic.twitter.com/LSvdyQiMoe
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 23, 2023

The Ferret reported (20 January 2023):

"ASC certification is not worth the paper it is written on, and instead merely facilitates industry greenwash" said Rachel Mulrenan @WildFishCons @FerretScot https://t.co/iE8hglwAD3 @ASC_aqua "seems to have been captured by the fish farming industry" @CCNScotland @fms_scotland
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 20, 2023

You can read the ASC's new 'Salmon Standard' (Version 1.4) in full online here - if you print it off please remember to recycle all 103 pages.

The ASC's 'Salmon Standard' (Version 1.4) includes:

Mowi's ASC-certified salmon farm at Groatay in North Uist may be in the firing line here.

Which is more likely: a) Mowi killing a seal illegally? or b) a loose bullet casing staying on the Groatay salmon farm in stormy North Uist waters for over 4 years?https://t.co/GGy9YBZKHZ @MowiScotlandLtd @marinescotland @ScotlandSalmon @PoliceScotland @rspcaassured @FerretScot pic.twitter.com/93cx1eyANJ
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 1, 2022

Norwegian giant Scottish Sea Farms may also struggle to follow the regulations. The Ferret reported in December 2021:

The ASC's 'Salmon Standard' (Version 1.4) includes a prohibition on the use of ADDs (another area where the salmon farming industry has struggled to comply with the law):

A great result! 🎊

Last week a case brought to @EnvStanScot by CCN over the unlawful use of ADDs 📢on salmon farms has led to a de-facto ban on these devices.

ADDs emit high frequency pulses which disturb ceteaceans🐬🐋#CommunityAction https://t.co/SE6Y4ozd7R
— Coastal Communities Network (CCN) (@CCNScotland) August 9, 2022

The Ferret reported in October 2022:

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in March 2021:

Photo Exclusive: Seals 'Executed' by Scottish Salmon https://t.co/88Kn1lZwpx @SSPOsays @salmon_scottish @scotseafarms @strandings @marinescotland @NOAA @RuralPolicySRUC @SRUC @rspcaassured @SSPCA_Mike @SSPCA_Kirsteen @RSPCAChris @Try_Lochlander @coopuk @marksandspencer @Tesco pic.twitter.com/XDimhpTbXi
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 8, 2021

The ASC's 'Salmon Standard' (Version 1.4) allows escapes - even giving salmon farms a free pass if the escape incident was "outside the farm's control":

Mowi's ASC-certified salmon farm at Carradale reported a mass escape of nearly 50,000 salmon in August 2020 (Mowi's Carradale salmon farm was certified in September 2022 but an ASC audit in August 2020 was cancelled due to the escape).

Escaped Mowi salmon now caught in English rivers @MowiScotlandLtd @fms_scotland https://t.co/p1u4jVaGNZ
What diseases & viruses do they have? @marinescotland @strathearnrose
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 8, 2020

Official Scottish Government figures show Mowi has recovered zero out of 48,834 escapees (i.e. 0%!) @MowiScotlandLtd https://t.co/3hMTYTQb9V
How much will @GreenerScotland fine Mowi for failing to recapture escapees? @fms_scotland @FergusEwingMSP @strathearnrose £0.00? #Mowi pic.twitter.com/hzHpfYKhX7
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 9, 2020

The ASC's 'Salmon Standard' (Version 1.4) permits the use of toxic copper on salmon farm nets:

The ASC's 'Salmon Standard' (Version 1.4) permits shocking levels of mass mortalities - capping only deaths relating to viral disease to less than 10%:

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in December 2020:

77% of Scottish salmon farms fail to meet the ASC's standard for certification - that's almost four out of every five sea sites exceeding 10% mortality! https://t.co/tPyBxvBlwJ
ASC-certified Scottish salmon is dead in the water!@ASC_aqua @Salmoskius @SSPOsays @ScotlandMowi pic.twitter.com/EInM56nTsM
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 7, 2020

Watch Chris Ninnes, CEO of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, on @BBCCountryfile hammer the nail in the coffin of Scottish salmon by demanding less than 10% mortality on @ASC_aqua certified farms - 77% of salmon farms cannot meet the mortality standard! @SSPOsays @ScotlandMowi pic.twitter.com/TZzuKoIXWB
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 8, 2020

Since 2020, mass mortalities on ASC-certified and ASC-audited salmon farms have sky-rocketed:

Exposed: Certification of 'responsibly' farmed @MowiScotlandLtd via the Aquaculture Stewardship Council @ASC_aqua permits mortality rates at salmon farms in excess of 36% (not to mention the use of cancer-causing chemicals & antibiotics)! https://t.co/HsXs18bIo6 @rspcaassured pic.twitter.com/XR0vxDDfrQ
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 13, 2021

EXPOSED: Over 100,000 dead farmed salmon @scotseafarms in one month at Toyness in Orkney @marinescotland - surely @ASC_aqua "farmed responsibly" certification is dead in the water? @Acoura_UK @lloydsregister @The_Orcadian @LeroySeafood @Folketrygdfond https://t.co/sl7E4vmN5y pic.twitter.com/XoH5hkCsqu
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 11, 2022

$camon $cotland reported in October 2022:

EXPOSED: The Aquaculture Stewardship Council should be rebranded The Abominable Salmon Council! @ASC_aqua @Salmoskius https://t.co/zcpvAyB9TU
How the hell can mass mortalities, disease & welfare abuse be certified as "responsible"?
Shame on @sainsburys @Tesco @rspcaassured @ciwf pic.twitter.com/2PaGx4uzmO
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 12, 2022

New mortality data published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate on 6 October 2022 exposes the sham of certification via the Aquaculture Stewarship Council.

$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

The ASC's 'Salmon Standard' (Version 1.4) even sanctions the use of toxic chemicals and antibiotics:

Scottish salmon farming's use of toxic chemicals is spiralling out of control - with the use of antibiotics leaping nearly 9 times (790%) between 2018 and 2021.

Toxic Scottish Salmon - why are salmon pharms permitted to use lobster-killing chemicals across Scotland (even @SoilAssociation @ASC_aqua certified & @rspcaassured sites)? @ScottishEPA @nature_scot @marinescotland @ScotGovNetZero @vmdgovuk @scotgp @MairiMcAllan @MairiGougeon pic.twitter.com/CVqp5pup7D
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 25, 2022

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

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in January 2022:

Please boycott Scottish salmon certified as "farmed responsibly" @ASC_aqua
Mowi's "responsibly farmed" @rspcaassured Scottish salmon sold @sainsburys & @Tesco uses a cocktail of toxic chemicals - it should be labelled as "farmed irresponsibly"! @ASA_UK https://t.co/cxEj1GFxlh pic.twitter.com/asBtEY7mMy
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 6, 2022

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in June 2021:

Anyone for Norwegian Salmon Marindaded in Banned Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (don't worry it's ASC-approved)?! https://t.co/fn6TWu9qo4 #BMK08 #Ectosan #D10AquaticBlast @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @ASC_aqua
Is toxic Norwegian salmon reaching consumers? @seafoodnorway @REMA1000 pic.twitter.com/BpytMop4U2
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 17, 2021

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in June 2020:

Anyone for "responsibly certified" Scottish salmon doused in carcinogenic chemical, battered to death, ridden with infectious diseases, served with a side of slaughtered seal & lashings of lice? https://t.co/eY2gaWV3eD @ASC_aqua @MowiScotlandLtd @FergusEwingMSP @rspcaassured pic.twitter.com/lljHE7UyBn
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 3, 2020

Greenwashing by the Deadly ASC (Abominable Salmon Council) Leaps to Over 30 Fish Farms - with another 17 waiting to be rubber-stamped!

64% Mortality at RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms in Loch Nevis - as sold by M&S as "responsibly sourced"?! (& ASC-certified as 'responsible')

74% Mortality Reported by RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms (Supplier to M&S) in Loch Nevis - soon to be ASC-certified as 'responsible'!

"Loose Bullet Casing" found at ASC-certified Mowi salmon farm - the £10,000 smoking gun to prosecute for illegal killing of seals?

Exclusive: New Photos Expose Gruesome Not 'Responsible' ASC-Certified Mowi Salmon!

Death Stalks Scottish Salmon - Rising Mortalities Plague RSPCA Assured & ASC-Certified Sites!

21% Mortality at Mowi's ASC-Certified & RSPCA Assured Marulaig Bay & Rum in ONE WEEK!!!

Abominable Salmon Certification - the Aquaculture Stewardship Council is Sponsoring Serial Killing in Scotland!

Greenwashing by the ASC - you can't polish a turd but you can roll it in glitter!

Open Letter to the RSPCA & ASC - please stop certifying Scottish salmon as "responsibly farmed"!

ASC-Certified/Audited Mass Mortalities Pile Up at Lousy Mowi & Scottish Sea Farms!

New Mortality Data for Disease-Ridden Scottish Salmon - 700,000+ in the first two weeks of December!

Open letter to the ASC: Please cancel all certification of Mowi's toxic Scottish salmon!

Mowi's 'Host' With the Most....Toxic Chemicals & Antibiotics (certified as "responsibly farmed" by the ASC)!

ASC cancel Mowi certifications due to exceedances of antibiotics use, escape & "administrative reasons"!

Rest Assured - the RSPCA has been captured, co-opted & corrupted by the Salmafia

Update: Mortality Rate Over 36% At RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon!

Mowi's 'Healthy' RSPCA Assured & ASC-Certified Salmon Farm at Gorsten (as featured in Seaspiracy)

Netflix's 'Seaspiracy' Exposes Disease-Ridden Scottish Salmon – As Sponsored by the RSPCA & Aquaculture Stewardship Council!

Anyone for ASC-Certified Scottish Salmon Doused in Carcinogenic Formaldehyde?

ASC-Certified Shellfish Killers (not to mention seals, diseases, lice, pollution etc)

EXPOSED: Scottish Salmon's Sustainability Scam

Lipstick on a Pig - WWF's Makeover At Marine Harvest

WWF Greenwashes Marine Harvest

The Abominable Salmon Council - Buyer Beware!

Pepé Le Pew Loves Farmed Salmon!

EXPOSED: The Aquaculture Stewardship Council should be rebranded The Abominable Salmon Council! @ASC_aqua @Salmoskius https://t.co/zcpvAyB9TU
How the hell can mass mortalities, disease & welfare abuse be certified as "responsible"?
Shame on @sainsburys @Tesco @rspcaassured @ciwf pic.twitter.com/2PaGx4uzmO
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 12, 2022

Posted at 07:39 AM | Permalink

The ASC Runs Out of Greenwash: "Certification Not Awarded" at five salmon farms operated by Mowi & Scottish Sea Farms

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council - dubbed the 'Abominable Salmon Council' - has greenwashed so many salmon farms that it appears to be running out of green paint. 'Certification Not Awarded' reads entries for five salmon farms in Scotland on the ASC's web-site:

The ASC entry for Seaforth (Mowi) reads:

Mowi report 668,235 dead fish in 38 incidents in 2022 - including mass morts at Ardintoul, Seaforth, Grey Horse Channel & Greshornish due to Salmonid Rickettsial Septicaemia, Amoebic Gill Disease, Heart & Skeletal Muscle Inflammation & Pasteurella Skyensis https://t.co/DqDKfxGm84 pic.twitter.com/x8HNGfyTO1
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 9, 2022

The ASC entry for Noster (Mowi) reads:

The ASC entry for Westerbister (Scottish Sea Farms) reads:

LRQA - the certification body greenwashing salmon farms for the ASC - told $camon $cotland in November 2022 (in response to an email asking why information was not public):

From: LRQA ASC <asc-ca@lrqa.com>
Date: Wed, Nov 9, 2022 at 2:23 PM
Subject: FW: Dates salmon farms were "not awarded" ASC certification?
To: salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>

Hi Don,

A CAB must provide ASC with a reason for not awarding a certificate after an initial audit.

I have checked the ASC website records for these five farms and other farms and concur that the reasoning for certificates not being awarded is not publicly visible.

If ASC do not make this information public we cannot share it without permission. I would recommend getting in touch with certification@asc-aqua.org for further guidance.

Best Regards,

Lewis Warren

Aquaculture Scheme Coordinator | LRQA Edinburgh, United Kingdom

lewis.warren@lrqa.com | +44 121 817 4274

LRQA

6 Redheughs Rigg, South Gyle, Edinburgh EH12 9DQ

Visit www.lrqa.com or follow us on LinkedIn | Twitter

The ASC subsequently told $camon $cotland later in November 2022:

From: Certification <Certification@asc-aqua.org>
Date: Wed, Nov 23, 2022 at 2:19 PM
Subject: RE: Dates salmon farms were "not awarded" ASC certification?
To: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>, Certification <Certification@asc-aqua.org>
Cc: LRQA ASC <asc-ca@lrqa.com>

Hi Don

As advised in my earlier email the reasons for cancelled, withdrawn, suspended, certification not awarded certificates only became available on the website from May 2022 as we integrated a process on our system prior to this a Form 5 - Notice of the event was published on the website as is the case for ASC00127. This is why there is an actual document for ASC00127 but not for the other 4 farms. For the other 4 certificates the information is on the website itself and is not a separate document. See example for Noster below the information you are looking for is highlighted in yellow.

Best regards,

Elaine

In January 2022, Scottish Salmon Watch reported:

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

Certification of four Mowi salmon farms via the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has been cancelled. "Carradale was cancelled due to an escape event; Cairidh due to administrative reasons; Maol Ban and Sconser Quarry because they were projected to exceed the permitted antibiotic treatments number of the Salmon Standard," explained the ASC's Jack Cutforth in an email dated 17 December 2021.

ASC certification of Mowi's Carradale salmon farm was cancelled following the mass escape of 49,000 farmed salmon in August 2020:

The ASC cancellation notice reads:

Mowi's Sconser Quarry and Maol Ban salmon farms were cancelled in November 2020 due to excessive use of antibiotics.

Here's the ASC's cancellation notice:

Mowi's Cairidh salmon farm in Loch Ainort on the Isle of Skye was cancelled due to administrative reasons:

Here's the ASC cancellation notice:

In January 2020, Scottish Salmon Watch revealed that Mowi's Cairidh salmon farm in Loch Ainort was the source of roadspill onto the A86 in September 2019:

Here's a quaint video from the Highlands of Scotland with Scottish salmon leaping out of the haulage truck onto the A86. What a lovely sight & smell for tourists driving through the slick of diseased fish! https://t.co/RvKXv3GDD8 @st_alliance @12distilleries @lagganwolftrax pic.twitter.com/8nM8HGDE2J
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 14, 2019

Here's correspondence with the ASC:

From: Jack Cutforth <Jack.Cutforth@asc-aqua.org>
Date: Fri, Dec 17, 2021 at 4:23 PM
Subject: Re: ASC support for 20%+ mortality?
To: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>

Hi Don, if you go to Find a Farm and click on the farm in question, scroll down to the ‘Associated Document(s)’ section. Here, if the certification has been cancelled there will be a Cancellation/Suspension/Withdrawn notice. To view it you need to click on the ‘Available in English’ link on the right - see the screenshot below.

Let me know if that’s still not working.

Thanks,

Jack

From: Jack Cutforth <Jack.Cutforth@asc-aqua.org>
Date: Fri, Dec 17, 2021 at 11:18 AM
Subject: Re: ASC support for 20%+ mortality?
To: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>, Bertrand Charron <Bertrand.Charron@asc-aqua.org>
Cc: Chris Ninnes <Chris.Ninnes@asc-aqua.org>

Hi Don,

I’m afraid it is not correct to describe what Chris said as being a ‘policy pledge’ that ASC certification would be ‘ruled out’ with more than 10% mortality. The ASC Salmon Standard does require mortality from viral disease to be 10% or below, but non disease-related conditions such as natural algal blooms may also lead to mortalities. The overarching principle set out in criterion 5.1 of the standard is that mortalities of all types must be minimised and indicator 5.1.7 of the standard requires a farm specific mortality reduction program. If there is any doubt over ASC’s policy on mortalities or any other aspect of our standards, they have always been available to view in full online and we are always happy to clarify any questions.

Likewise, our commitment to transparency means you can find out the reason for any cancelled certification by using the Find a Farm feature on the ASC website – they are listed in a cancellation/suspension/withdrawn notice document. Those forms show that Carradale was cancelled due to an escape event; Cairidh due to administrative reasons; Maol Ban and Sconser Quarry because they were projected to exceed the permitted antibiotic treatments number of the Salmon Standard. Let me know if you need help finding these forms.

ASC’s requirements on antibiotics can be found in criterion 5.2 of the Salmon Standard. In addition to the limit of three antibiotic treatments per production cycle (with each treatment being a reduced antibiotic load to the one before), all therapeutic treatments (including antibiotics) must be licensed and prescribed by a vet who will also set the required withdrawal period for residues to clear before harvesting is permitted; antibiotics cannot be used preventatively; and antibiotics listed by the World Health Organisation as critically important for human medicine cannot be used at all. That is not an exhaustive list of the requirements, all of which can be found in criterion 5.2.

I don’t have all the details but it looks like the antibiotics you’ve mentioned there are not banned or listed as critically important by the WHO. There is a contractual clause in the Certification and Accreditation Requirements (CAR) that a farm must inform their auditing body (Conformity Assessment Body or CAB) of any medicines administered at a certified site (this is 4.9.4.12 in the CAR). This means that if medicinal treatments do contravene any of ASC requirements the CAB will investigate and decide what further action is required. As the standard setter, the ASC does not determine if any site does or does not meet the standard, this is entirely the responsibility of the accredited CAB.

Thanks,

Jack

Exposed: Certification of 'responsibly' farmed @MowiScotlandLtd via the Aquaculture Stewardship Council @ASC_aqua permits mortality rates at salmon farms in excess of 36% (not to mention the use of cancer-causing chemicals & antibiotics)! https://t.co/HsXs18bIo6 @rspcaassured pic.twitter.com/XR0vxDDfrQ
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 13, 2021

64% Mortality at RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms in Loch Nevis - as sold by M&S as "responsibly sourced"?! (& ASC-certified as 'responsible')

74% Mortality Reported by RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms (Supplier to M&S) in Loch Nevis - soon to be ASC-certified as 'responsible'!

"Loose Bullet Casing" found at ASC-certified Mowi salmon farm - the £10,000 smoking gun to prosecute for illegal killing of seals?

Exclusive: New Photos Expose Gruesome Not 'Responsible' ASC-Certified Mowi Salmon!

Death Stalks Scottish Salmon - Rising Mortalities Plague RSPCA Assured & ASC-Certified Sites!

21% Mortality at Mowi's ASC-Certified & RSPCA Assured Marulaig Bay & Rum in ONE WEEK!!!

Abominable Salmon Certification - the Aquaculture Stewardship Council is Sponsoring Serial Killing in Scotland!

Greenwashing by the ASC - you can't polish a turd but you can roll it in glitter!

Open Letter to the RSPCA & ASC - please stop certifying Scottish salmon as "responsibly farmed"!

ASC-Certified/Audited Mass Mortalities Pile Up at Lousy Mowi & Scottish Sea Farms!

New Mortality Data for Disease-Ridden Scottish Salmon - 700,000+ in the first two weeks of December!

Open letter to the ASC: Please cancel all certification of Mowi's toxic Scottish salmon!

Mowi's 'Host' With the Most....Toxic Chemicals & Antibiotics (certified as "responsibly farmed" by the ASC)!

ASC cancel Mowi certifications due to exceedances of antibiotics use, escape & "administrative reasons"!

Rest Assured - the RSPCA has been captured, co-opted & corrupted by the Salmafia

Update: Mortality Rate Over 36% At RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon!

Mowi's 'Healthy' RSPCA Assured & ASC-Certified Salmon Farm at Gorsten (as featured in Seaspiracy)

Netflix's 'Seaspiracy' Exposes Disease-Ridden Scottish Salmon – As Sponsored by the RSPCA & Aquaculture Stewardship Council!

Anyone for ASC-Certified Scottish Salmon Doused in Carcinogenic Formaldehyde?

ASC-Certified Shellfish Killers (not to mention seals, diseases, lice, pollution etc)

EXPOSED: Scottish Salmon's Sustainability Scam

Lipstick on a Pig - WWF's Makeover At Marine Harvest

WWF Greenwashes Marine Harvest

The Abominable Salmon Council - Buyer Beware!

Pepé Le Pew Loves Farmed Salmon!

Posted at 05:36 AM | Permalink

01/22/2023

Greenwashing by the Deadly ASC (Abominable Salmon Council) Leaps to Over 30 Fish Farms - with another 17 waiting to be rubber-stamped!

Greenwashing Warning: there are now 32 salmon farms across Scotland certified @ASC_aqua as 'responsible' with a further 17 salmon farms being audited with a view to certification by the Abominable Salmon Council! @ScotlandSalmon @MowiScotlandLtd https://t.co/PNvnBNrHNq pic.twitter.com/lw9K8bAumE
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 22, 2023

Despite rising death rates on salmon farms across Scotland, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council recently (16 January 2023) approved three disease-ridden salmon farms in Loch Nevis operated by Scottish Sea Farms (exclusive supplier to M&S). Earlier this month, Salmon Scotland published damning mortality data for November 2022 detailing 64% at Nevis B salmon farm and 46.8% at Nevis A salmon farm:

Mortality data published by Salmon Scotland for October 2022 also revealed shocking death rates at salmon farms across Scotland with 74% mortality at Nevis B and 45.3% at Nevis A:

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
WTF? @rspcaassured @ScotlandSalmon pic.twitter.com/0NxtnuiUby
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 7, 2022

Salmon Scotland's mortality data for November 2022 also detailed 47% mortality at Mowi's Bagh Dail Nan Cean ('Bay of the Dead Heads') salmon farm and 30% mortality at Mowi's Poll na Gille salmon farm in the Sound of Jura:

Despite such high death rates, Mowi's RSPCA Assured salmon farms at Poll Na Gille and Bagh Dail Nan Cean (Bay of the Dead Heads) in the Sound of Jura were audited this week - 16 to 20 January 2023 - by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council:

When Scottish Salmon Watch filmed inside Mowi's salmon farms at Poll na Gille, Bagh Dail Nan Ceann, Port na Cro and SW Shuna in July 2021 the welfare conditions were far from 'responsible':

Tonight @ITV are airing new show #NextLevelChefUK, sponsored by salmon farming giant @MowiScotlandLtd. The grim reality of a Mowi #salmonfarm below the surface shows why we need it #Offthetable @GordonRamsay @PaulAinsw6rth @nyeshajoyce @WildFishCons pic.twitter.com/HdZLaqTPDI
— Arran Coast (@ArranCoast) January 11, 2023

Bakkafrost's Meall Mhor salmon farm in Loch is also currently being audited by the ASC - with an inspection from 20 to 24 February 2023. Animal Equality reported (16 January 2023):

As of today (22 January 2023), there are 32 salmon farms across Scotland now certified by the ASC as 'responsible' with a further 17 salmon farms being audited with a view to ASC certification. Here's the list of salmon farms already certified by the ASC in Scotland:

Here's a list of the 17 salmon farms currently being audited by the ASC:

$camon $cotland reported (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

The ASC - dubbed the 'Abominable Salmon Council' - has been lambasted for shameless greenwashing. The Ferret reported (20 January 2023):

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), whose logo certifies farmed fish as “environmentally and socially responsible”, is increasing the number of lice permitted on caged salmon in Scotland.https://t.co/NMScITR4ug
— The Ferret (@FerretScot) January 20, 2023

"ASC certification is not worth the paper it is written on, and instead merely facilitates industry greenwash" said Rachel Mulrenan @WildFishCons @FerretScot https://t.co/iE8hglwAD3 @ASC_aqua "seems to have been captured by the fish farming industry" @CCNScotland @fms_scotland
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 20, 2023

Ecohustler reported (12 Janaury 2023):

ASC label now allowing more parasites on factory farmed #salmon https://t.co/93UtEMFLyB @ASC_aqua @ciwf @philip_ciwf @jamieoliver @oceanrebellion @SusFoodTrust @sainsburys pic.twitter.com/brEYMk7uMj
— Ecohustler (@Ecohustler) January 12, 2023

$camon $cotland wrote to the ASC and RSPCA Assured in October 2022:

Please end torture & cruelty on salmon farms in Scotland! @ScotlandSalmon @MowiScotlandLtd
Stop certifying Scottish salmon as "responsibly sourced" @rspcaassured & "farmed responsibly" @ASC_aqua https://t.co/GdiaY00bHJ #RSPCA #ASC #Scottish #Scamon @philip_ciwf @Animallawyersuk pic.twitter.com/S6O6cYkQQc
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 14, 2022

Scottish Salmon Watch wrote to the ASC in January 2022:

Open letter to the ASC: Please cancel all certification of Mowi's toxic Scottish salmon! https://t.co/N9MwDaN0kQ @ASC_aqua @MowiScotlandLtd @fms_scotland @SalmonTroutCons
Scottish salmon is farmed irresponsibly not responsibly! @rspcaassured @ASA_UK @sainsburys @Tesco @LidlGB pic.twitter.com/3L76as7mTY
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 6, 2022

01/20/2023

Named & Shamed: Scotland's Most Deadly Salmon Farms in 2022 (as sponsored by RSPCA Assured & the ASC)!

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

Scottish salmon's 2022 league of shame is headed by RSPCA Assured Bakkafrost in East Tarbert Bay off the Isle of Gigha with a staggering 781,352 dead fish killed via 17 'Mortality Event Reports' which cited lice infestation, Piscine Reovirus, Amoebic Gill Disease, physical damage, Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis, Vibrio, Aeromonas (Furunculosis) and Rickettsia:

Mowi's aptly-named 'Bay of the Dead Heads' (Bagh Dail Nan Ceann) salmon farm in the Sound of Jura - being audited by the ASC this week (16-20 January 2023) and already certified as 'welfare friendly' via RSPCA Assured - has racked up 588,514 morts during 2022 via 8 'Mortality Event Reports' with Rickettsia, Salmon Gill Poxvirus and Amoebic Gill Disease cited in the case reports published by the Fish Health Inspectorate:

Mowi's nearby Poll Na Gille salmon farm off the Isle of Shuna - another site being audited by the ASC this week (16-20 January 2023) and already certified as 'welfare friendly' via RSPCA Assured - has reported 270,786 mortalities via 6 'Mortality Event Reports' with Rickettsia cited as a cause of mortalities:

Bakkafrost - certified as 'welfare friendly' via RSPCA Assured along with every other salmon farming company in Scotland - has reported 481,517 mortalities at Druimyeon Bay salmon farm off the Isle of Gigha via 12 'Mortality Event Reports' during 2022 with Viral Disease, Bacterial Disease, Gill Health, Salmon Rickettsial Syndrome, Rickettsia and Pancreas Disease cited by the Fish Health Inspectorate:

Bakkafrost - accredited via RSPCA Assured who rake in over half a million pounds per year from greenwashing salmon farms in Scotland - has the kiss of death across Scotland with 189,292 mortalities reported at Lamlash Bay salmon farm off the Isle of Arran via 12 'Mortality Event Reports'; 233,773 mortalities reported at Plocrapol salmon farm off the Isle of Harris via 14 'Mortality Event Reports' and 311,658 mortalities reported at Scadabay salmon farm off the Isle of Harris via 15 'Mortality Event Reports':

RSPCA Assured Bakkaforst's salmon farm at Scotasay off the Isle of Harris reported 237,445 morts during 2022 via 21 'Mortality Event Reports' with Piscine Reovirus, Pasteurella Skyensis, Proliferative Gill Disease and Anaemia cited by the Fish Health Inspectorate:

All hail Bakkafrost Scotland (formerly The Scottish Salmon Company) - Scottish salmon's King of Death! https://t.co/Ju6L8xNZjw
How can 82.1% mortality (that's 4 in every 5 fish dying a cruel death) be branded "responsibly sourced"? @rspcaassured @ScotlandSalmon @Folketrygdfond pic.twitter.com/zc4OuDlw2x
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 26, 2022

Please end torture & cruelty on salmon farms in Scotland! @ScotlandSalmon @MowiScotlandLtd
Stop certifying Scottish salmon as "responsibly sourced" @rspcaassured & "farmed responsibly" @ASC_aqua https://t.co/GdiaY00bHJ #RSPCA #ASC #Scottish #Scamon @philip_ciwf @Animallawyersuk pic.twitter.com/S6O6cYkQQc
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 14, 2022

The Worst of the Worst @ScotlandSalmon - headed by 55.9% mortality in September @LochDuartSalmon in Loch Carnan: that's over half the fish dying in 30 days!!https://t.co/kjNDyAMOzI
But don't worry, Loch Duart is @rspcaassured - nothing to see here! https://t.co/UzZDt5a2qZ #RSPCA pic.twitter.com/6KKtrNoIsq
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 9, 2022

Anyone for @rspcaassured Loch Duart salmon fresh from Loch Laxford? Comes with Salmon Gill Poxvirus, Heart & Skeletal inflammation, Piscine reovirus, hyperplasic branchitis, vascular disturbance, haemorrhage & Bacterial dermatitis @LochDuartSalmon @ScotlandSalmon @TavishScott pic.twitter.com/qMbkN2bn4t
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 18, 2022

Mowi's RSPCA Assured salmon farm at Loch Greshornish reported 123,257 mortalities during 2022 via 11 'Mortality Event Reports' with Pasteurella Skyensis, Heart & Skeletal Muscle Inflammation, Amoebic Gill Disease and Thermolicer losses cited by the Fish Health Inspectorate as causes of mortality:

Cooke Aquaculture - certified as 'organic' by the Soil Association and 'welfare friendly' via RSPCA Assured - has been hit by mass mortalities during 2022 in Orkney with 81,038 dead fish reported at Ouseness salmon farm via 7 'Mortality Event Reports'; 50,276 dead fish at Pegal Bay via 4 'Mortality Event Reports' and 68,610 dead fish at Meil Bay via 3 'Mortality Event Reports':

Organic Scamon: here's what Cooke Aquaculture's salmon from Westray on Orkney look like (as inspected by @marinescotland in May) @The_Orcadian @bbcorkney @OrkneyCouncil
Why does the @SoilAssociation certify salmon farms as 'organic'? @SoilAssocScot @CookeScotland @cookeseafood pic.twitter.com/7FTcnt01zG
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) August 24, 2022

Scottish Sea Farms - another company certified as 'welfare friendly' via RSPCA Assured and exclusive supplier to M&S - has racked up mass mortalities across Scotland during 2022 with 146,515 dead fish reported via 12 'Mortality Event Reports' in Loch Creran with Viral Disease, Bacterial Disease and Heart & Skeletal Muscle Inflammation cited by the Fish Health Inspectorate.

Gotcha: Secret filming inside @scotseafarms in Loch Creran in July triggered an inspection @scotgov revealing welfare & disease problems with Piscine Reovirus, Heart & Skeletal Muscle Inflammation, exothalmia & "hanging" salmon @rspcaassured @ScotlandSalmon @marksandspencer pic.twitter.com/VFWuJqmRF1
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 29, 2022

Other salmon farms operated by RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms (Norskott Havbruk) suffering from alarming death rates during 2022 include Dunstaffnage (198,786 morts); Swarta Skerry (146,437 morts) and Kerrera B (150,552 morts):

'Difficult' Question Warning: How can Scottish salmon be marketed as "responsible" & "healthy" when 15 million+ fish die due to infectious diseases such as Rickettsia, Piscine Reovirus, Salmon Gill Poxvirus, Pancreas Disease & Seal Lice? https://t.co/sMPYT23pCl @rspcaassured pic.twitter.com/s93isqWvUr
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 20, 2023

$camon $cotland reported (15 January 2023):

Watch leaked video footage of mass mortalities from RSPCA Assured salmon farms across Scotland:

$camon $cotland reported in October 2022:

Named & Shamed: The most deadly salmon farms as greenwashed via @rspcaassured & @ASC_aqua
Data sourced via 'Mortality Event Reports' submitted by salmon farms @ScotlandSalmon published via https://t.co/oZtlH0Dpft @scotgov
Bakkafrost is the king of death! @Folketrygdfond pic.twitter.com/tuS6naIjV0
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 11, 2022

If you just focus on the number of 'Mortality Event Reports' filed by fish farms here's Scottish salmon's worst serial killers:

Back in April 2021, $almafia lobbyist Tavish Scott lied to the BBC when he denied that millions of Scottish salmon were dying due to diseases:

MILLIONS of farmed salmon are dying from lice infestations, chlamydia, heart disease, anaemia etc.

The CEO of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation @SSPOsays, Mr @TavishScott says it's a

"Pack of lies".

Make up you own mind who's the LIAR here. pic.twitter.com/C0T1aId4pn
— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) April 19, 2021

In 2021, $almafia lobbyist @tavishscott @ScotlandSalmon lied @BBCScotNine when he denied Scottish salmon were dying from infectious diseases https://t.co/LKYZtFDWmP
Last week @scotgov @marinescotland published data on 15 million salmon dying in 2022! https://t.co/sMPYT23pCl pic.twitter.com/p0qkxdocRm
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 20, 2023

Daily Record: "Scottish salmon farms' death toll of 15 million sparks MSP calls for urgent inquest"

The Ferret: "‘Illegal’ dumping of dead fish in Outer Hebrides continues despite ban vow"

The Times: "Number of dead salmon at Scottish fish farms rises to 15 million"

The Observer: "Scottish salmon farms facing boycott call as fish deaths double"

64% Mortality at RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms in Loch Nevis - as sold by M&S as "responsibly sourced"?!!

74% Mortality Reported by RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms (Supplier to M&S) in Loch Nevis!

Remembrance Day Plea for the Millions of Farmed Salmon Killed in Scotland Every Year

3 million Scottish Salmon Die Inside RSPCA Assured Feedlots in September?!

8,000 tonne shortfall for Scottish Sea Farms (Norskott Havbruk) due to "biological challenges"!

Record Death Rates Plagues Salmon Farms Across Scotland!

Annus Horribilis Salmonis: Mowi's "Troublesome Year" in Scotland - 22% fall in production!

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

Death Stalks Scottish Salmon - Rising Mortalities Plague RSPCA Assured & ASC-Certified Sites!

21% Mortality at Mowi's ASC-Certified & RSPCA Assured Marulaig Bay & Rum in ONE WEEK!!!

Abominable Salmon Certification - the Aquaculture Stewardship Council is Sponsoring Serial Killing in Scotland!

Scottish Scamon: Piscine Reovirus, skin lesions/boils & "hanging" salmon in Loch Creran (sold by M&S as "responsibly sourced" & certified via RSPCA Assured)!

RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon Infested with 50 Lice, Poxvirus, Necrosis, Lesions & Myocarditis!

Salmon Hell on 'God's Island' - Mass Mortalities Pile Up (Again) at RSPCA Assured Bakkafrost off Isle of Gigha!

Greenwashing by the ASC - you can't polish a turd but you can roll it in glitter!

New Survey Lifts Lid on Falling Production & Rising Mortalities on 'Scottish' Salmon Farms!

Death Deflation: 13 Million Morts On Scottish Salmon Farms in 2021 - More Like 22 Million (& maybe 50 million if you add freshwater)!

Named & Shamed: The Most Deadly Salmon Farms in Scotland (as greenwashed as "responsible" via RSPCA Assured & the ASC)!

Halloween Comes Early at Deadly Scottish Salmon - mortalities pile up due to viral disease, fungus, gill infections & lice infestations!

Death Rates Soar at Salmon Farms (according to data published by Salmon Scotland)

Press Release: "Year of the Dead Salmon: Scottish Salmon Plagued by Mass Mortality Problems"

Media Backgrounder: Year of the Dead Salmon - Bakkafrost Scotland is the King of Death!

Fake News? Over 50% Mortality at RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon Farms - how can supermarkets advertise it as "responsibly sourced"?

56% Mortality at RSPCA Assured Mowi (but don't worry, it's certified as "farmed responsibly" by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council)!

Exposed: 10 Million Morts at RSPCA Assured Mowi Since 2019!

Revealed: 30+ Million Dead Scottish Salmon Since 2017 - over 8 million morts reported last year & over half a million in first two weeks of 2022!!

Mowi's "Woes in Scotland" - Disease & Deaths Cause £5.6 Million Losses!

Over 80% Mortality at The Scottish Salmon Company!!!

ASC-Certified/Audited Mass Mortalities Pile Up at Lousy Mowi & Scottish Sea Farms!

New Mortality Data for Disease-Ridden Scottish Salmon - 700,000+ in the first two weeks of December!

Dead in the Water - Scottish Salmon's Mortality Mountain Piles Ever Higher in 2021!

Mass Mortalities - 66% in one month at The Scottish Salmon Company on the Isle of Gigha!

Lousy 'Scottish' Salmon - the most lice-infested salmon farms named & shamed!

Irresponsible Scottish Salmon Exposed: 'Scotland's Aquaculture' Publishes Data on Toxic Chemicals Use, Morts & Biomass Breaches

STV News: "Thousands of rotting salmon ‘stink out’ village after mass death at farm"

X-Rated Video: 90% Mortality at The Faroese/Norwegian 'Scottish' Salmon Company?!

Video Nasties of Dead Farmed Salmon Pile Up All Over the World!

Videos of Mort Disposal by The Scottish Salmon Company - like a serial killer disposing of dead bodies before the police arrive!

Demand for moratorium on new fish farms after mortality rates revealed

"The shocking death rates on Scotland's salmon farms revealed"

Rest Assured - the RSPCA has been captured, co-opted & corrupted by the Salmafia

2020: The Year of Diseased Scottish Salmon - 27,000 Tonnes of Dead Fish, the Worst On Record!

Stop the Scottish Salmondemic - please avoid disease-ridden farmed salmon like the proverbial plague!

Taking the Fish - Illegal Salmon Dump Caught Taking Diseased Fish from the Mainland Despite 'Derogation'!

FOI Lifts Lid on the Stench of Scottish Salmon: Government Legal Department Target Illegal Dumping of Diseased Salmon

The Times: "Fish graveyard ‘severely hampers’ life for islanders, officials claim"

Update: Mortality Rate Over 36% At RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon!

Mowi's 'Healthy' RSPCA Assured & ASC-Certified Salmon Farm at Gorsten (as featured in Seaspiracy)

Netflix's 'Seaspiracy' Exposes Disease-Ridden Scottish Salmon – As Sponsored by the RSPCA & Aquaculture Stewardship Council!

Anyone for ASC-Certified Scottish Salmon Doused in Carcinogenic Formaldehyde?

Update: 25 Million Mass Mortalities on Scottish Salmon Farms

52 million deaths in Norway - how many millions died on Scottish salmon farms in 2020?

The Case Against Scottish Salmon - An Update on Diseases & Mass Mortalities!

2.2 Million Missing Mortalities at Scottish Sea Farms?

Mass Mortalities Continue to Plague Scottish Salmon

Alexa, how many salmon die each year on Scottish salmon farms? 42 million* (but we don't know for sure as the answer is deemed "commercially damaging")!

Over One Million Morts for Scottish Salmon in September 2020!

Survival of the Unhealthiest Scottish Salmon - New data reveals shocking mortality rates!

Dead in the Water - New Data Reveals Mass Mortalities & Disease on Scottish Salmon Farms

The Ferret: "Farmed salmon deaths from disease reach record high"

The Killing Farms - Scottish Salmon's Horror Story Continues!

Solving Scottish Salmon's Multi-Million Mortality Problem

Farmed salmon mortalities hit a high of 29,000 tonnes last year.

That’s unacceptable and the Scottish Government must do far more with the industry to reduce mortalities. pic.twitter.com/LEsG5zwX7g
— Edward Mountain (@1edmountain) January 25, 2023

Posted at 06:49 AM | Permalink

01/19/2023

Deadly Data: Scottish Salmon Mortalities Double to 15 Million+ in 2022 (but full disclosure of mort numbers would be "commercially damaging" say industry lobbyists)

In 2013 the $almafia @ScotlandSalmon lobbied @ScottishEPA not to publish mortality numbers saying disclosure was commercially damaging. Now @scotgov reports 15 million morts in 2022 but the data is missing millions. Publish or perish, Tavish! @tavishscott https://t.co/MNSvdNHbLu pic.twitter.com/xHw3Sjsp9N
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 19, 2023

Data published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate - detailing a doubling of deaths on salmon farms in Scotland during 2022 - is all over the news like a bad case of Salmon Gill Poxvirus, Amoebic Gill Disease, Cardiomyopathy Syndrome or Pasteurella Skyensis plaguing farmed salmon.

@afftheclyde22 #scottishgovernment reports 15 million salmon died in Scottish fish farms in 2022. This is under the voluntary reporting scheme for #fishfarms, no doubt there are many more unreported mortalities. Take #scottishsalmon #OffTheMenu ♬ original sound - afftheclyde

A decade ago in 2013, the $almafia lobbied against full disclosure of mort numbers which the salmon farming industry argued would be 'commercially damaging'. Hence the public simply do not know how many farmed salmon die each year on salmon farms - a figure of 15 million dead salmon in 2022 is therefore not the full story by any means.

The Observer reported (15 January 2023):

Tik-Tok - the bad news about Scottish salmon farming just keeps on exploding! @AFFtheClyde @tavishscott @ScotlandSalmon @animal_equality @WildFishCons @ciwf @onekindtweet https://t.co/QKD758wrql
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 19, 2023

The Times reported (17 January 2023):

The Scotsman reported (16 January 2023):

Salmon farming "has the audacity to boast of its fish ‘survival rates’ as though it is somehow acceptable for millions of individual fish to die each year from violent lice treatments or rough weather" said Abigail Penny @animal_equality @TheScotsman https://t.co/RNA8gWTzel
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 18, 2023

The Daily Record reported (18 January 2023):

Opposition MSPs hit out at "alarming" and "horrendous" stats after the mortality rate on fish farms nearly doubled in a yearhttps://t.co/xAI4B8QZsI
— The Daily Record (@Daily_Record) January 18, 2023

Intrafish reported (19 January 2023):

It is important to note that the Scottish Government's mortality data - as published by the Fish Health Inspectorate - "is not a comprehensive record of fish farm mortality but only details situations where the mortality reporting thresholds have been reached and where this information has been reported to Marine Scotland by the industry or where information has been obtained through FHI surveillance":

The second Excel document - 'Mortality notification form and guidance' - details the thresholds for reporting of mortalities:

i..e if below 1.5% mortality in fish less than 750g there is no need to report mort numbers

i.e. if below 1% mortality in fish more than 750g there is no need to report morts numbers

i.e. if below 6% mortality in eggs to first feed fish there is no need to report morts numbers

i.e. if below 3% mortality in 1st feed fish to 5g there is no need to report morts numbers

i.e. if below 1.5% mortality in 5g fish to smolting fish there is no need to report morts numbers

In other words, vast quantities of mortalities on salmon farms like those dumped illegally at Whiteshore Cockles in North Uist go unreported and unrecorded in the Scottish Government's mortality data.

In terms of the mortality data that the public is allowed to see (as published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate on 9 January 2023), here's the largest mass mortalities reported in sea cages during 2022 (the Scottish Government states that data is up to the end of November 2022 but some data up to 13 December 2022 is published - and note that of 3,600+ 'Mortality Event Reports' since 2015 ca. 10% of cases fail to disclose information on the exact numbers of morts with Scottish Sea Farms notoriously secretive). Norwegian giant Mowi heads the list of death with mass mortalities at the aptly named 'Bay of the Dead Heads' (Bagh Dail Nan Ceann) salmon farm in the Sound of Jura (located within the Argyll Hope Spot):

Faroese-based Bakkafrost Scotland (The Scottish Salmon Company) - whose largest shareholder is the Norwegian Government (as represented by Folketrygdfondet) - accounted for the most mortalities reported in 2022 (data up to the end of November 2022) with 6.2 million morts via 292 'Mortality Event Reports' followed by Norwegian giant Mowi with 4.9 million morts via 215 'Mortality Event Reports'; Norwegian-owned Scottish Sea Farms (Norskott Havbruk) with 2.2 million morts via 216 'Mortality Event Reports'; US-owned Loch Duart with 637,842 morts via 45 'Mortality Event Reports'; Canadian-owned Cooke Aquaculture with 411,076 morts via 42 'Mortality Event Reports' and Wester Ross Fisheries (bought by Mowi in June 2022) with 98,106 morts via 20 'Mortality Event Reports'.

All hail Bakkafrost Scotland (formerly The Scottish Salmon Company) - Scottish salmon's King of Death! https://t.co/Ju6L8xNZjw
How can 82.1% mortality (that's 4 in every 5 fish dying a cruel death) be branded "responsibly sourced"? @rspcaassured @ScotlandSalmon @Folketrygdfond pic.twitter.com/zc4OuDlw2x
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 26, 2022

Here's the largest 'Mortality Event Reports' since data was made available in 2015 (as published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate on 9 January 2023) - headed by freshwater salmon farms:

In fact, comprehensive mortality data has not been available since 2012 after lobbying by Salmon Scotland (when called the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation) who persuaded the Scottish Environment Protection Agency that disclosure of the number of deaths on salmon farms would be commercially damaging.

If you're looking for data on numbers of @rspcaassured dead farmed salmon in Scotland they don't exist - in 2013 @SSPOsays lobbied @ScottishEPA not to disclose mortalities as it was deemed commercially damaging! https://t.co/cDEyvS04dO @strathearnrose @salmon_scottish @scotgp pic.twitter.com/FICRbrpGXJ
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 2, 2020

$camon $cotland reported in September 2022:

How may farmed salmon died in Scotland last year?
We don't know because @ScottishEPA stopped publishing the data in 2013 after @ScotlandSalmon lobbied vs disclosure arguing publication would be 'commercially damaging'. But based on previous data it could be 22 million morts! pic.twitter.com/7b7YeE00Xw
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 29, 2022

$camon $cotland reported in November 2022:

Calling Albert Einstein: Scottish Salmon's 30,000+ Tonne Black Hole Spawns Maths Challenge! https://t.co/2h6ob330lL @marinescotland @ScotlandSalmon @scotseafarms @TavishScott @MowiScotlandLtd @GriegShetland @MairiGougeon @rspcaassured @ASC_aqua @scotgp pic.twitter.com/jjjKekhjhB
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 10, 2022

In November 2022, Salmon Scotland published mortality numbers for the first time in a decade when they admitted that 2.8 million farmed salmon had died in September 2022:

Mortality data published by Salmon Scotland for November 2022 reveals that mortalities were just as bad as in September 2022:

Watch gruesome video footage shot inside salmon farming operations across Scotland during 2022 - as published by Dale Vince of Ecotricity in December 2022:

The Daily Expess reported (15 December 2022):

Thanks for all of your questions and comments - here's a list of all the places you can buy this salmon - if you still like the look of it. https://t.co/lwcyGyCgiw pic.twitter.com/F0YOONcFlA
— Dale Vince (@DaleVince) December 15, 2022

Daily Record: "Scottish salmon farms' death toll of 15 million sparks MSP calls for urgent inquest"

The Ferret: "‘Illegal’ dumping of dead fish in Outer Hebrides continues despite ban vow"

The Times: "Number of dead salmon at Scottish fish farms rises to 15 million"

The Observer: "Scottish salmon farms facing boycott call as fish deaths double"

64% Mortality at RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms in Loch Nevis - as sold by M&S as "responsibly sourced"?!!

74% Mortality Reported by RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms (Supplier to M&S) in Loch Nevis!

Remembrance Day Plea for the Millions of Farmed Salmon Killed in Scotland Every Year

3 million Scottish Salmon Die Inside RSPCA Assured Feedlots in September?!

8,000 tonne shortfall for Scottish Sea Farms (Norskott Havbruk) due to "biological challenges"!

Record Death Rates Plagues Salmon Farms Across Scotland!

Annus Horribilis Salmonis: Mowi's "Troublesome Year" in Scotland - 22% fall in production!

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

Death Stalks Scottish Salmon - Rising Mortalities Plague RSPCA Assured & ASC-Certified Sites!

21% Mortality at Mowi's ASC-Certified & RSPCA Assured Marulaig Bay & Rum in ONE WEEK!!!

Abominable Salmon Certification - the Aquaculture Stewardship Council is Sponsoring Serial Killing in Scotland!

Scottish Scamon: Piscine Reovirus, skin lesions/boils & "hanging" salmon in Loch Creran (sold by M&S as "responsibly sourced" & certified via RSPCA Assured)!

RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon Infested with 50 Lice, Poxvirus, Necrosis, Lesions & Myocarditis!

Salmon Hell on 'God's Island' - Mass Mortalities Pile Up (Again) at RSPCA Assured Bakkafrost off Isle of Gigha!

Greenwashing by the ASC - you can't polish a turd but you can roll it in glitter!

New Survey Lifts Lid on Falling Production & Rising Mortalities on 'Scottish' Salmon Farms!

Death Deflation: 13 Million Morts On Scottish Salmon Farms in 2021 - More Like 22 Million (& maybe 50 million if you add freshwater)!

Named & Shamed: The Most Deadly Salmon Farms in Scotland (as greenwashed as "responsible" via RSPCA Assured & the ASC)!

Halloween Comes Early at Deadly Scottish Salmon - mortalities pile up due to viral disease, fungus, gill infections & lice infestations!

Death Rates Soar at Salmon Farms (according to data published by Salmon Scotland)

Press Release: "Year of the Dead Salmon: Scottish Salmon Plagued by Mass Mortality Problems"

Media Backgrounder: Year of the Dead Salmon - Bakkafrost Scotland is the King of Death!

Fake News? Over 50% Mortality at RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon Farms - how can supermarkets advertise it as "responsibly sourced"?

56% Mortality at RSPCA Assured Mowi (but don't worry, it's certified as "farmed responsibly" by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council)!

Exposed: 10 Million Morts at RSPCA Assured Mowi Since 2019!

Revealed: 30+ Million Dead Scottish Salmon Since 2017 - over 8 million morts reported last year & over half a million in first two weeks of 2022!!

Mowi's "Woes in Scotland" - Disease & Deaths Cause £5.6 Million Losses!

Over 80% Mortality at The Scottish Salmon Company!!!

ASC-Certified/Audited Mass Mortalities Pile Up at Lousy Mowi & Scottish Sea Farms!

New Mortality Data for Disease-Ridden Scottish Salmon - 700,000+ in the first two weeks of December!

Dead in the Water - Scottish Salmon's Mortality Mountain Piles Ever Higher in 2021!

Mass Mortalities - 66% in one month at The Scottish Salmon Company on the Isle of Gigha!

Lousy 'Scottish' Salmon - the most lice-infested salmon farms named & shamed!

Irresponsible Scottish Salmon Exposed: 'Scotland's Aquaculture' Publishes Data on Toxic Chemicals Use, Morts & Biomass Breaches

STV News: "Thousands of rotting salmon ‘stink out’ village after mass death at farm"

X-Rated Video: 90% Mortality at The Faroese/Norwegian 'Scottish' Salmon Company?!

Video Nasties of Dead Farmed Salmon Pile Up All Over the World!

Videos of Mort Disposal by The Scottish Salmon Company - like a serial killer disposing of dead bodies before the police arrive!

Demand for moratorium on new fish farms after mortality rates revealed

"The shocking death rates on Scotland's salmon farms revealed"

Rest Assured - the RSPCA has been captured, co-opted & corrupted by the Salmafia

2020: The Year of Diseased Scottish Salmon - 27,000 Tonnes of Dead Fish, the Worst On Record!

Stop the Scottish Salmondemic - please avoid disease-ridden farmed salmon like the proverbial plague!

Taking the Fish - Illegal Salmon Dump Caught Taking Diseased Fish from the Mainland Despite 'Derogation'!

FOI Lifts Lid on the Stench of Scottish Salmon: Government Legal Department Target Illegal Dumping of Diseased Salmon

The Times: "Fish graveyard ‘severely hampers’ life for islanders, officials claim"

Update: Mortality Rate Over 36% At RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon!

Mowi's 'Healthy' RSPCA Assured & ASC-Certified Salmon Farm at Gorsten (as featured in Seaspiracy)

Netflix's 'Seaspiracy' Exposes Disease-Ridden Scottish Salmon – As Sponsored by the RSPCA & Aquaculture Stewardship Council!

Anyone for ASC-Certified Scottish Salmon Doused in Carcinogenic Formaldehyde?

Update: 25 Million Mass Mortalities on Scottish Salmon Farms

52 million deaths in Norway - how many millions died on Scottish salmon farms in 2020?

The Case Against Scottish Salmon - An Update on Diseases & Mass Mortalities!

2.2 Million Missing Mortalities at Scottish Sea Farms?

Mass Mortalities Continue to Plague Scottish Salmon

Alexa, how many salmon die each year on Scottish salmon farms? 42 million* (but we don't know for sure as the answer is deemed "commercially damaging")!

Over One Million Morts for Scottish Salmon in September 2020!

Survival of the Unhealthiest Scottish Salmon - New data reveals shocking mortality rates!

Dead in the Water - New Data Reveals Mass Mortalities & Disease on Scottish Salmon Farms

The Ferret: "Farmed salmon deaths from disease reach record high"

The Killing Farms - Scottish Salmon's Horror Story Continues!

Solving Scottish Salmon's Multi-Million Mortality Problem

Anti-salmon farming campaigner Don Staniford has claimed the true mortality rate could be as high as 25 per cent, saying: “If ramblers saw one in four cows or sheep dead in a field they’d be horrified” @Daily_Record https://t.co/PAuoq6OTtV @tavishscott @ScotlandSalmon @the_gsfr pic.twitter.com/rcgkROI863
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 18, 2023

Video Nasties of Dead Farmed Salmon Pile Up All Over the World! https://t.co/J2Y7MiNXnE @ClayoquotAction @CermaqCan @ClayoquotFriend @claybiotrust @CCUNESCO @BCSalmonFarmers @Cermaq @WesterlyNews
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 14, 2021

Posted at 01:29 PM | Permalink

01/18/2023

Daily Record: "Scottish salmon farms' death toll of 15 million sparks MSP calls for urgent inquest"

Opposition MSPs hit out at "alarming" and "horrendous" stats after the mortality rate on fish farms nearly doubled in a yearhttps://t.co/xAI4B8QZsI
— The Daily Record (@Daily_Record) January 18, 2023

The Daily Record reported (18 January 2023):

"The SNP have ignored warning after warning about salmon farming & their failure to regulate it properly has had dire consequences...these latest figures on mortality are horrendous & totally unacceptable" @colinsmythmsp @Daily_Record https://t.co/PAuoq6OTtV @theSNP @scotgp
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 18, 2023

The Times: "Number of dead salmon at Scottish fish farms rises to 15 million"

The Observer: "Scottish salmon farms facing boycott call as fish deaths double"

64% Mortality at RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms in Loch Nevis - as sold by M&S as "responsibly sourced"?!!

74% Mortality Reported by RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms (Supplier to M&S) in Loch Nevis!

Remembrance Day Plea for the Millions of Farmed Salmon Killed in Scotland Every Year

3 million Scottish Salmon Die Inside RSPCA Assured Feedlots in September?!

8,000 tonne shortfall for Scottish Sea Farms (Norskott Havbruk) due to "biological challenges"!

Record Death Rates Plagues Salmon Farms Across Scotland!

Annus Horribilis Salmonis: Mowi's "Troublesome Year" in Scotland - 22% fall in production!

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

Death Stalks Scottish Salmon - Rising Mortalities Plague RSPCA Assured & ASC-Certified Sites!

21% Mortality at Mowi's ASC-Certified & RSPCA Assured Marulaig Bay & Rum in ONE WEEK!!!

Abominable Salmon Certification - the Aquaculture Stewardship Council is Sponsoring Serial Killing in Scotland!

Scottish Scamon: Piscine Reovirus, skin lesions/boils & "hanging" salmon in Loch Creran (sold by M&S as "responsibly sourced" & certified via RSPCA Assured)!

RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon Infested with 50 Lice, Poxvirus, Necrosis, Lesions & Myocarditis!

Salmon Hell on 'God's Island' - Mass Mortalities Pile Up (Again) at RSPCA Assured Bakkafrost off Isle of Gigha!

Greenwashing by the ASC - you can't polish a turd but you can roll it in glitter!

New Survey Lifts Lid on Falling Production & Rising Mortalities on 'Scottish' Salmon Farms!

Death Deflation: 13 Million Morts On Scottish Salmon Farms in 2021 - More Like 22 Million (& maybe 50 million if you add freshwater)!

Named & Shamed: The Most Deadly Salmon Farms in Scotland (as greenwashed as "responsible" via RSPCA Assured & the ASC)!

Halloween Comes Early at Deadly Scottish Salmon - mortalities pile up due to viral disease, fungus, gill infections & lice infestations!

Death Rates Soar at Salmon Farms (according to data published by Salmon Scotland)

Press Release: "Year of the Dead Salmon: Scottish Salmon Plagued by Mass Mortality Problems"

Media Backgrounder: Year of the Dead Salmon - Bakkafrost Scotland is the King of Death!

Fake News? Over 50% Mortality at RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon Farms - how can supermarkets advertise it as "responsibly sourced"?

56% Mortality at RSPCA Assured Mowi (but don't worry, it's certified as "farmed responsibly" by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council)!

Exposed: 10 Million Morts at RSPCA Assured Mowi Since 2019!

Revealed: 30+ Million Dead Scottish Salmon Since 2017 - over 8 million morts reported last year & over half a million in first two weeks of 2022!!

Mowi's "Woes in Scotland" - Disease & Deaths Cause £5.6 Million Losses!

Over 80% Mortality at The Scottish Salmon Company!!!

ASC-Certified/Audited Mass Mortalities Pile Up at Lousy Mowi & Scottish Sea Farms!

New Mortality Data for Disease-Ridden Scottish Salmon - 700,000+ in the first two weeks of December!

Dead in the Water - Scottish Salmon's Mortality Mountain Piles Ever Higher in 2021!

Mass Mortalities - 66% in one month at The Scottish Salmon Company on the Isle of Gigha!

Lousy 'Scottish' Salmon - the most lice-infested salmon farms named & shamed!

Irresponsible Scottish Salmon Exposed: 'Scotland's Aquaculture' Publishes Data on Toxic Chemicals Use, Morts & Biomass Breaches

STV News: "Thousands of rotting salmon ‘stink out’ village after mass death at farm"

X-Rated Video: 90% Mortality at The Faroese/Norwegian 'Scottish' Salmon Company?!

Video Nasties of Dead Farmed Salmon Pile Up All Over the World!

Videos of Mort Disposal by The Scottish Salmon Company - like a serial killer disposing of dead bodies before the police arrive!

Demand for moratorium on new fish farms after mortality rates revealed

"The shocking death rates on Scotland's salmon farms revealed"

Rest Assured - the RSPCA has been captured, co-opted & corrupted by the Salmafia

2020: The Year of Diseased Scottish Salmon - 27,000 Tonnes of Dead Fish, the Worst On Record!

Stop the Scottish Salmondemic - please avoid disease-ridden farmed salmon like the proverbial plague!

Taking the Fish - Illegal Salmon Dump Caught Taking Diseased Fish from the Mainland Despite 'Derogation'!

FOI Lifts Lid on the Stench of Scottish Salmon: Government Legal Department Target Illegal Dumping of Diseased Salmon

The Times: "Fish graveyard ‘severely hampers’ life for islanders, officials claim"

Update: Mortality Rate Over 36% At RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon!

Mowi's 'Healthy' RSPCA Assured & ASC-Certified Salmon Farm at Gorsten (as featured in Seaspiracy)

Netflix's 'Seaspiracy' Exposes Disease-Ridden Scottish Salmon – As Sponsored by the RSPCA & Aquaculture Stewardship Council!

Anyone for ASC-Certified Scottish Salmon Doused in Carcinogenic Formaldehyde?

Update: 25 Million Mass Mortalities on Scottish Salmon Farms

52 million deaths in Norway - how many millions died on Scottish salmon farms in 2020?

The Case Against Scottish Salmon - An Update on Diseases & Mass Mortalities!

2.2 Million Missing Mortalities at Scottish Sea Farms?

Mass Mortalities Continue to Plague Scottish Salmon

Alexa, how many salmon die each year on Scottish salmon farms? 42 million* (but we don't know for sure as the answer is deemed "commercially damaging")!

Over One Million Morts for Scottish Salmon in September 2020!

Survival of the Unhealthiest Scottish Salmon - New data reveals shocking mortality rates!

Dead in the Water - New Data Reveals Mass Mortalities & Disease on Scottish Salmon Farms

The Ferret: "Farmed salmon deaths from disease reach record high"

The Killing Farms - Scottish Salmon's Horror Story Continues!

Solving Scottish Salmon's Multi-Million Mortality Problem

Today's Times reporting on how deaths on salmon farms in Scotland have doubled @Ilonaamos @timesscotland https://t.co/UYdAs5XYPf @tavishscott @ScotlandSalmon @marinescotland @MairiMcAllan @MairiGougeon #Scottish #Salmon #Death #Cruelty #Suffering pic.twitter.com/DkHGTHkOqN
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 17, 2023

Anti-salmon farming campaigner Don Staniford has claimed the true mortality rate could be as high as 25 per cent, saying: “If ramblers saw one in four cows or sheep dead in a field they’d be horrified” @Daily_Record https://t.co/PAuoq6OTtV @tavishscott @ScotlandSalmon @the_gsfr pic.twitter.com/rcgkROI863
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 18, 2023

Posted at 09:38 AM | Permalink

Professor Jason Hall-Spencer investigates how salmon farming in Scotland is killing ancient maerl beds

Professor Jason Hall-Spencer from Plymouth Uni investigates how salmon farming in Scotland is killing ancient maerl beds. @MairiGougeon @MairiMcAllan @ArianeBurgessHI @_KateForbes https://t.co/OymjAoV5HD pic.twitter.com/jYmobQy9qU
— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) January 17, 2023

Watch the film online here

Probe into claim rare reefs harmed by fish farm pollution

Loch Creran - the reefs are dying: the dying loch

Video nasty of the dead zone under a salmon farm in Iceland!

Effects of fish farm activities on the sponge Weberella bursa, and its associated microbiota

One fish farm produces waste equivalent to 'all of Scotland's west coast towns'

Review of the environmental impacts of salmon farming in Scotland

Chemical seas: the rise and fall of salmon pharming in Scotland

David Ainsley shows us the waste impacts of salmon farms

Salmon farms turn sea bed into graveyard

44 Per Cent of Scottish Salmon Farms - Seabed Pollution Unsatisfactory

Discharge of nutrient wastes from salmon farms: environmental effects, and potential for integrated multi-trophic aquaculture

Impact of fish farms on maerl beds in strongly tidal areas

Waste contamination from salmon farms

A Big Fish In a Small Pond: the global environmental and public health threat of sea cage fish farming

Recovery of sediments after cessation of marine fish farm production

Scotland's Secret: Aquaculture, nutrient pollution, eutrophication and toxic blooms

Self-pollution by Scottish salmon farms?

The effect of salmon farming on the benthos of a Scottish sea loch

Watch video footage under salmon farms in Scotland, Iceland and Norway here:

Video nasty of the dead zone under a salmon farm in Iceland https://t.co/XoQpJ7BWi6 via @stundin @forsaetisradun @MFAIceland @katrinjak
Please boycott farmed salmon!
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 1, 2022

Watch 'The Dying Loch':

Posted at 04:39 AM | Permalink

01/17/2023

The Ferret: "‘Illegal’ dumping of dead fish in Outer Hebrides continues despite ban vow"

NEW: The “illegal” dumping of dead farmed fish on a Hebridean beauty spot has been allowed to continue despite authorities’ plans to ban the practice in March 2022, The Ferret can reveal.https://t.co/6rdiY3s8Sg
— The Ferret (@FerretScot) January 16, 2023

The Ferret reported (16 January 2023):

Leaked drone footage of the dead fish dump at Whiteshore Cockles @FerretScot https://t.co/igHguaqemX @cne_siar @APHAgovuk @ScottishEPA @MairiGougeon @_KateForbes @marinescotland @ScotGovNetZero @nature_scot @MowiScotlandLtd @LochDuartSalmon
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 19, 2023

More details via: Media Backgrounder: Leaked Video & Photos from Whiteshore Cockles CIWF Investigation

Read in full online here

The ‘illegal’ dumping of dead fish in Hebridean beauty spot set to end

FOI disclosure on Whiteshore Cockles by the Scottish Government (202100254831) on 8 December 2021

The Times: "Tougher curbs for island salmon graveyard in Outer Hebrides"

FOI disclosure on Whiteshore Cockles by the Scottish Government in August 2021

Exposed: 'Legal' Salmon Dump in North Uist Caught Importing Diseased Fish From the Mainland (& they've still not applied to SEPA for a pollution permit)!

Taking the Fish - Illegal Salmon Dump Caught Taking Diseased Fish from the Mainland Despite 'Derogation'!

Scottish Government ‘exploring strategies’ for mort burial site

P&J: "Lives of Western Isles residents ‘severely hampered by rotting fish dump’"

The Times: "Fish graveyard ‘severely hampers’ life for islanders, officials claim"

FOI Lifts Lid on the Stench of Scottish Salmon: Government Legal Department Target Illegal Dumping of Diseased Salmon

Appeal to Scottish Information Commissioner re. FOI refusal by Western Isles Council on Whiteshore Cockles

Letter to Scottish Ministers on Illegal Dumping of Diseased Scottish Salmon in North Uist

Daily Mail: "Dumped into the dunes....thousands of rotten, disease ridden salmon"

Independent: "Scottish islanders raise a stink over vast salmon graveyard"

Video Exposes Mass Graves of Millions of Diseased Scottish Salmon

The Times: "Islanders raise a stink over vast salmon graveyard"

Sunday National: "The Millions of Dead Salmon Dumped, Burnt or Destroyed"

Media Backgrounder: Mort Disposal of Scottish Farmed Salmon - Ewan Kennedy - The €10 Million Mort Man

European Commission complaint over dead fish dumping forces rule change

Where have all the dead fish gone?

Fears raised by salmon dump

Diseased fish dumping continues

Call it Karma, Hypocrisy or Irony?
Angus MacDonald & Whiteshore Cockles threaten @thetimes @thetimesscot with legal action over a news story of their illegal graveyard for diseased Scottish salmon @ScotlandSalmon
Now lawyers @scotgov close them down! https://t.co/LL9dCWFb5n pic.twitter.com/3mUS1Lgl9J
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 28, 2022

Posted at 07:33 AM | Permalink

The Times: "Number of dead salmon at Scottish fish farms rises to 15 million"

"Salmon deaths at fish farms in Scotland have nearly doubled in the past year, figures show" @timesscotland https://t.co/UYdAs5XqZH @tavishscott @ScotlandSalmon @MowiScotlandLtd @Folketrygdfond @scotseafarms pic.twitter.com/VrFGGM0tMI
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 17, 2023

The Times reported (17 January 2023):

Today's Times reporting on how deaths on salmon farms in Scotland have doubled @Ilonaamos @timesscotland https://t.co/UYdAs5XYPf @tavishscott @ScotlandSalmon @marinescotland @MairiMcAllan @MairiGougeon #Scottish #Salmon #Death #Cruelty #Suffering pic.twitter.com/DkHGTHkOqN
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 17, 2023

64% Mortality at RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms in Loch Nevis - as sold by M&S as "responsibly sourced"?!!

74% Mortality Reported by RSPCA Assured Scottish Sea Farms (Supplier to M&S) in Loch Nevis!

Remembrance Day Plea for the Millions of Farmed Salmon Killed in Scotland Every Year

3 million Scottish Salmon Die Inside RSPCA Assured Feedlots in September?!

8,000 tonne shortfall for Scottish Sea Farms (Norskott Havbruk) due to "biological challenges"!

Record Death Rates Plagues Salmon Farms Across Scotland!

Annus Horribilis Salmonis: Mowi's "Troublesome Year" in Scotland - 22% fall in production!

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

Death Stalks Scottish Salmon - Rising Mortalities Plague RSPCA Assured & ASC-Certified Sites!

21% Mortality at Mowi's ASC-Certified & RSPCA Assured Marulaig Bay & Rum in ONE WEEK!!!

Abominable Salmon Certification - the Aquaculture Stewardship Council is Sponsoring Serial Killing in Scotland!

Scottish Scamon: Piscine Reovirus, skin lesions/boils & "hanging" salmon in Loch Creran (sold by M&S as "responsibly sourced" & certified via RSPCA Assured)!

RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon Infested with 50 Lice, Poxvirus, Necrosis, Lesions & Myocarditis!

Salmon Hell on 'God's Island' - Mass Mortalities Pile Up (Again) at RSPCA Assured Bakkafrost off Isle of Gigha!

Greenwashing by the ASC - you can't polish a turd but you can roll it in glitter!

New Survey Lifts Lid on Falling Production & Rising Mortalities on 'Scottish' Salmon Farms!

Death Deflation: 13 Million Morts On Scottish Salmon Farms in 2021 - More Like 22 Million (& maybe 50 million if you add freshwater)!

Named & Shamed: The Most Deadly Salmon Farms in Scotland (as greenwashed as "responsible" via RSPCA Assured & the ASC)!

Halloween Comes Early at Deadly Scottish Salmon - mortalities pile up due to viral disease, fungus, gill infections & lice infestations!

Death Rates Soar at Salmon Farms (according to data published by Salmon Scotland)

Press Release: "Year of the Dead Salmon: Scottish Salmon Plagued by Mass Mortality Problems"

Media Backgrounder: Year of the Dead Salmon - Bakkafrost Scotland is the King of Death!

Fake News? Over 50% Mortality at RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon Farms - how can supermarkets advertise it as "responsibly sourced"?

56% Mortality at RSPCA Assured Mowi (but don't worry, it's certified as "farmed responsibly" by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council)!

Exposed: 10 Million Morts at RSPCA Assured Mowi Since 2019!

Revealed: 30+ Million Dead Scottish Salmon Since 2017 - over 8 million morts reported last year & over half a million in first two weeks of 2022!!

Mowi's "Woes in Scotland" - Disease & Deaths Cause £5.6 Million Losses!

Over 80% Mortality at The Scottish Salmon Company!!!

ASC-Certified/Audited Mass Mortalities Pile Up at Lousy Mowi & Scottish Sea Farms!

New Mortality Data for Disease-Ridden Scottish Salmon - 700,000+ in the first two weeks of December!

Dead in the Water - Scottish Salmon's Mortality Mountain Piles Ever Higher in 2021!

Mass Mortalities - 66% in one month at The Scottish Salmon Company on the Isle of Gigha!

Lousy 'Scottish' Salmon - the most lice-infested salmon farms named & shamed!

Irresponsible Scottish Salmon Exposed: 'Scotland's Aquaculture' Publishes Data on Toxic Chemicals Use, Morts & Biomass Breaches

STV News: "Thousands of rotting salmon ‘stink out’ village after mass death at farm"

X-Rated Video: 90% Mortality at The Faroese/Norwegian 'Scottish' Salmon Company?!

Video Nasties of Dead Farmed Salmon Pile Up All Over the World!

Videos of Mort Disposal by The Scottish Salmon Company - like a serial killer disposing of dead bodies before the police arrive!

Demand for moratorium on new fish farms after mortality rates revealed

"The shocking death rates on Scotland's salmon farms revealed"

Rest Assured - the RSPCA has been captured, co-opted & corrupted by the Salmafia

2020: The Year of Diseased Scottish Salmon - 27,000 Tonnes of Dead Fish, the Worst On Record!

Stop the Scottish Salmondemic - please avoid disease-ridden farmed salmon like the proverbial plague!

Taking the Fish - Illegal Salmon Dump Caught Taking Diseased Fish from the Mainland Despite 'Derogation'!

FOI Lifts Lid on the Stench of Scottish Salmon: Government Legal Department Target Illegal Dumping of Diseased Salmon

The Times: "Fish graveyard ‘severely hampers’ life for islanders, officials claim"

Update: Mortality Rate Over 36% At RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon!

Mowi's 'Healthy' RSPCA Assured & ASC-Certified Salmon Farm at Gorsten (as featured in Seaspiracy)

Netflix's 'Seaspiracy' Exposes Disease-Ridden Scottish Salmon – As Sponsored by the RSPCA & Aquaculture Stewardship Council!

Anyone for ASC-Certified Scottish Salmon Doused in Carcinogenic Formaldehyde?