Toxic Salmon: FOI Reveals Lobbying To Use Banned Neonicotinoid in Scotland – will trials of Imidacloprid take place this year?

 

 

 

 

A Freedom of Information disclosure by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency raises alarm bells that the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (hidden behind the trade names Ectosan Vet and BMK08) will be used on salmon farms in Scotland.   An email from the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre to SEPA in November 2021 referred to a ‘catch up on SAIC’s funded Cleantreat project and technology, which Benchmark are developing’ (CleanTreat is the vehicle for the delivery of Imidacloprid – known as BMK08/Ectosan Vet).  “It would be beneficial to understand SEPA’s position in terms regulation of the equipment’s use following this instrument development and testing phase,” wrote SAIC (name redacted).  “There is interest from the sector in utilizing the technology in the future to best manage chemical lice treatments, and who wish to better understand the practical detail in the potential steps to proceed with this technology”.

 

Blog #2 SAIC email to SEPA Nov 2021

 

 

 

 

Another email from Benchmark to SEPA in October 2021 referred to “an update around SEPA’s position regarding the Cleantreat project, specifically how the technology and discharge might be regulated”.

 

Blog #3 Benchmark email to SEPA Oct 2021

 

 

 

Note that Norwegian-owned Benchmark is the company pushing the use of Imidacloprid in salmon farming with a team of new hires waiting to unleash the banned neonicotinoid in Scotland. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An email from SEPA (named redacted) to Benchmark (name redacted) in November 2021 cited a “summary of the regulatory requirements applying where the discharge is made from a second vessel at the site rather than from the wellboat in which the fish are treated”.   “The permit holder will need to apply for a simple, administration variation,” wrote SEPA.  “The variation will amend the permit to provide for the discharge to be made from any vessel at the site rather than restricting it (as at present) to being made from the wellboat”.  “We expect to begin the process of transferring all farm permits onto a new, simpler permit template before the end of 2021/2022.  If the trial is carried out after this transfer, the application for variation referred to in (a) above will not be required.   We expect to determine applications for variations within a maximum of 4 months.   Simple administrative variations can be processed very quickly.  We would be happy to liaise with you and the operators concerned to ensure we understand timings and can plan accordingly.”

 

Blog #4 SEPA email to Benchmark Nov 2021

 

 

 

Data published last week (8 March 2022) by the Norwegian Veterinary Institute details use of Imidacloprid (dubbed 'Novichok for insects' by Professor Dave Goulson) on salmon farms across Norway during 2021. 

 

2021 Norwegian Fish Health Report 8 March 2022 #7 chemicals

 

 

Fish Farming Expert reported in December 2021 that the banned neonicotinoid "was keenly awaited by salmon farmers in Scotland, where the technology was developed". 

 

 

 

 

The Ferret revealed in May 2021 that the Scottish Government backed the use of the banned neonicotinoid in salmon farming in Scotland.

 

 

 

 

The Ferret reported in July 2021 that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency helped Benchmark avoid disclosure of documents via Freedom of Information:

 

 

 

 

 

In August 2021, Scottish Salmon Watch revealed that SEPA had not yet received an application to use Imidacloprid:

 

SG letter 25 Aug SEPA not received application for Imidacloprid 2021 #1

SG letter 25 Aug SEPA not received application for Imidacloprid 2021 #2

SG letter 25 Aug SEPA not received application for Imidacloprid 2021 #3

 

 

 

An internal email to SEPA staff in May 2021 (names redacted) “confirmed that no neonicotinoids are currently licensed for use and we have no applications pending”.  Media lines provided by SEPA (understood to be to The Guardian who published an article – ‘Novichok for insects’ may be approved for Scottish fish farms’ – the following day) included: “If an application is made to discharge a new medicine we require, among other things, the applicant to provide the scientific evidence to identify the no effect concentration for that medicine in the environment, and information on how they will ensure that this concentration is met”.   

 

Blog #1 SEPA email May 2021

 

 

FOI disclosure by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (22 February 2022):

Summary: FOI Backgrounder

Letter from SEPA dated 22 February 2022 EIR Response F0193236 FINAL

SEPA Board question related media response 26 May 2021

Benchmark 'catch up on CleanTreatSAIC project' with SEPA October 2021

SAIC Project update on CleanTreat with SEPA December 2021

SAIC email to SEPA re. CleanTreat position October 2021

SEPA Benchmark Discussion in June 2021

The Guardian Novichok for insects may be approved for Scottish fish farms_R_Redacted

Substances for SEPA consents FINAL

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in May 2020 that SEPA had been asked by Mowi to support a field trial of Imidacloprid (Ectosan) in Loch Ailort:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in October 2020:

 

 

 

How much of the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan) has been used in Scottish salmon farming – either legally or illegally – since Norwegian-owned Benchmark via the Inverness-based Fish Vet Group registered a patent back in 2011?  That's the killer question Scottish Salmon Watch is trying to track down via Freedom of Information (FOI) requests including an ongoing review with the Scottish Information Commissioner.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In August 2020, an Editorial in British Wildlife by Professor Dave Goulson of the University of Sussex questioned the use of Imidacloprid (banned by the European Union for use in terrestrial agriculture in 2018) in salmon farming.

 

 

 

 

In May 2021, Professor Dave Goulson – author of 'Silent Earth' – dubbed Imidacloprid 'Novichok for insects' in an article in The Guardian.

 

Guardian Novichok 27 May 2021 #1

 

 

 

 

The Veterinary Record reported (9/16 October 2021):

 

Vet Record letter 9 Oct 2021 #1

Vet Record letter 9 Oct 2021 #2

 

 

 

 

 

Read more via:

 

 

 

 

 

Addendum:

 

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 16, 2022 at 12:45 PM
Subject: FOI re. CleanTreat & Imidacloprid (Ectosan Vet/BMK08)
To: <info@sustainableaquaculture.com>
 
Please provide information on CleanTreat and Imidacloprid (Ectosan Vet/BMK08) since 1 January 2021.
 
Please include any details of SAIC’s funded Cleantreat project and technology as referred to in the email below (obtained from SEPA via FOI):
 
image.png
 
 
 
Please provide any correspondence with Benchmark – as indicated in the email below – as well as other parties including SEPA, Nature Scotland, VMD, Salmon Scotland (SSPO), the Scottish Government, Mowi, Leroy, Scottish Sea Farms and any other parties on the subject of CleanTreat and Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan Vet):
 
image.png

 
 
 
Please consider this a FOI request under the relevant FOI and Environmental Information regulations.
 
Please provide the information electronically.
 
Please provide a receipt for this FOI request.
 
Thanks,
 
Don Staniford
 
Director, Scamon Scotland
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 16, 2022 at 12:58 PM
Subject: FOI re. CleanTreat & Imidacloprid (Ectosan Vet/BMK08) since 17 April 2021
To: <CEU@gov.scot>
Please provide any information on Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan), CleanTreat and Benchmark since 17 April 2021 (i.e. since a FOI filed on that date: https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202100195003/).  
 
Please include any media lines, internal discussions, replies to journalists, Cabinet Briefings, emails, letters and other information relating to Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan), CleanTreat and Benchmark since 17 April 2021.  
 
Please include any details of SAIC’s funded Cleantreat project and technology as referred to in the email below (obtained from SEPA via FOI):
 
image.png
 
 
 
Please provide any correspondence with Benchmark as well as other parties including SAIC, SEPA, Nature Scotland, VMD, Salmon Scotland (SSPO), the Scottish Government, Mowi, Leroy, Scottish Sea Farms and any other parties on the subject of CleanTreat and Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan Vet).   It is understood that Benchmark and SAIC are actively seeking approval to use Imidacloprid via the CleanTreat system:
 
image.png

 
 
 
Scamon Scotland is interested in the Scottish Government's position on the use of Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan Vet) following last year's revelations in The Ferret: https://theferret.scot/pesticide-treatment-fish-farms-scottish-government/
 
And via the Scottish Government's FOI disclosure in May 2021:
 
 
Please consider this a FOI request under the relevant FOI and Environmental Information regulations.
 
Please provide the information electronically.
 
Please provide a receipt for this FOI request.
 
Thanks,
 
Don Staniford
 
Director, Scamon Scotland
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