A public register of ALL toxic chemicals used on salmon farms in Scotland could be in the pipeline according to a FOI reply from @vmdgovuk https://t.co/Rl0jZZ21Cc @ScottishEPA @marinescotland @nature_scot @SSPOsays @FergusEwingMSP @strathearnrose @WeAreBenchmark @MowiScotlandLtd pic.twitter.com/7NJRLbJOb5
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 2, 2020
A public register of ALL toxic chemicals used on salmon farms in Scotland could be in the pipeline according to a Freedom of Information (FOI) reply from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).
"In April 2019, the VMD had a discussion with the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) on the set-up of a medicine data collection system," revealed the VMD in a FOI reply dated 18 June 2020. "The discussion included the monitoring of ‘beneficial non-medicinal compounds’ and particularly, formalin" (see Appendix at end of this blog for the FOI reply in full).
On 20 May 2020, Scottish Salmon Watch filed a FOI request with the VMD, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Scottish Government – including:
Data on the use of the toxic chemicals Azamethiphos, Deltamethrin and Emamectin benzoate by salmon farms (excluding use via well boats) is already published online via Scotland's Aquaculture web-site (using data submitted by salmon farms to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency):
Whilst data for the use of Azamethiphos, Deltamethrin and Emamectin benzoate on salmon farms is currently available up until the end of March 2020 (Q1 2020), SEPA has still not bothered to upload data on the use via well boats via their Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory for 2019.
More details via "All is Not Well With Sick Scottish Salmon – unreported use of toxic chemicals via wellboats slips net"
Why is Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory data on use of Azamethiphos & Deltamethrin via well boats still not published for 2019 when data on use of toxic chemicals via salmon farms is now available up to March 2020 via Scotland's Aquaculture? @ScottishEPA @marinescotland pic.twitter.com/8wrMq7yTkR
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 2, 2020
In December 2019, Scottish Salmon Watch revealed following a FOI disclosure by the Scottish Government that Marine Scotland was keen to "downplay" any reference to wellboat discharge licensing moving to SEPA as it "may well be seized upon".
Read more via "Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon"
SEPA told Scottish Salmon Watch in May 2018:
Scottish Salmon Watch reported in October 2018:
Read more via "All is Not Well With Sick Scottish Salmon – unreported use of toxic chemicals via wellboats slips net"
Scottish Salmon Watch reported in March 2020:
Shame on SEPA for being so slow to publish data on mortalities, toxic chemicals & biomass https://t.co/5wYf7BiQ8A Data for October 2019 still cannot be downloaded due to "minor glitches" admits @ScottishEPA Even @MowiScotlandLtd @SSPOsays & @marinescotland have 2020 data online pic.twitter.com/NWwZb2oLC8
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 12, 2020
Shame on SEPA for being so slow to publish data on mortalities, toxic chemicals & biomass https://t.co/5wYf7BiQ8A Data for October 2019 still cannot be downloaded due to "minor glitches" admits @ScottishEPA Even @MowiScotlandLtd @SSPOsays & @marinescotland have 2020 data online pic.twitter.com/NWwZb2oLC8
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 12, 2020
SEPA is so slow that data on toxic chemical use on salmon farms from 2018 (which includes toxic chemical use via well boats) has still not been published via the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory!
Read more via "Shame on SEPA the Laggard not Leader (even the sloths at SSPO are quicker at publishing data)!"
At least since March 2020, SEPA has published 2018 SPRI data for Azamethiphos, Deltamethrin and Emamectin benzoate (which apparently includes well boat data). Here's the SPRI data for Azamethiphos use by salmon farms in 2018 – headed by Grieg Seafood's Setterness salmon farm in Shetland.
You can search by pollutant – including data for Deltamethrin and Emamectin benzoate – online here
Notifications of chemical use are also published via Marine Scotland's 'Marine Licence Documentation':
Toxic Scottish Salmon – here's an application @salmon_scottish for use of the shellfish-killing chemicals Azamethiphos, Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin & Hydrogen Peroxide in Loch Carron https://t.co/iFEmKlykHc @marinescotland There's a fleet of wellboats to discharge toxic chemicals pic.twitter.com/rL1ONq507d
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 26, 2020
Track & trace which salmon farms are applying to discharge toxic chemicals such as Azamethiphos, Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin & Hydrogen Peroxide via https://t.co/vhQm1AgnYf @marinescotland @MowiScotlandLtd @GriegShetland @scotseafarms @salmon_scottish @SSPOsays @FergusEwingMSP pic.twitter.com/ZrbDBkBbdb
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 26, 2020
However, data on the use of antibiotics such as Oxytetracycline; Hydrogen peroxide; Imidacloprid; and Formaldehyde (Formalin) slip through the reporting net.
Here's a petition calling on the Scottish Government to ban the use of Formaldehyde on salmon farms.
Please sign and share online here
In April 2020, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency opened the floodgates further to the use of toxic chemicals.
Under the Cloak of #Coronavirus – SEPA open floodgates to lobster-killing chemicals! https://t.co/6AgXQXNlS2 @ScottishEPA Emamectin benzoate is so toxic to shellfish it should be banned not used at higher concentrations & at unlicensed sites @TerryAHearn @SSPOsays @marinescotland pic.twitter.com/4PVFfGl1NU
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 9, 2020
Also on 12 April we reported that salmon farmers were being allowed to use more toxic pesticides during the #coronavirus emergency – despite risks to marine wildlife.https://t.co/hzdwuDXTOB
— The Ferret (@FerretScot) April 14, 2020
In July 2019, Scottish Salmon Watch exposed the use of carcinogenic Formaldehyde at Mowi's salmon farm in Loch Arkaig (a site "in assessment" by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council).
More videos of toxic chemicals used on salmon farms are available via:
Anyone for Scottish salmon doused in carcinogenic chemicals? https://t.co/vJq8ozquQB Scottish salmon farming is so toxic you have to wear a gas mask – I'd rather eat one of @DamienHirst's pickled sharks
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 8, 2019
The Ferret has reported on the scandal dubbed 'Slicegate' since 2017:
In 2017, documents obtained from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate via Freedom of Information revealed that the Scottish Salmon Company breached safety levels for Emamectin benzoate in the flesh of Scottish salmon three times in 2016 at two salmon farms in Loch Roag on the Isle of Lewis (Vacasay and Taranaish) due to an "overdose".
Emamectin contamination of Scottish farmed salmon has occurred at least eight times with other cases reported by the VMD in 2012 (Scottish Salmon Company), 2010 (Lakeland Marine), 2009 (Skelda Salmon), 2006 (Scottish Sea Farms) and 2005 (Marine Harvest, re-named Mowi in 2019 due to negative consumer perception).
Read more via:
Petition: "Stop Toxic Salmon Farm Chemicals Polluting Scottish Lochs"
Sunday Times: "Outlawed insecticide may be used on Scottish salmon"
Anyone for ASC-Certified Scottish Salmon Doused in Carcinogenic Formaldehyde?
Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid?
FOI letter to Scottish Ministers re. Formaldehyde/Formalin use on salmon farms since 2013
The Ferret: "Toxic fish farm pesticide polluted ten lochs across Scotland"
REVEALED: Carcinogenic Chemical Formaldehyde Flooding Scottish Lochs
More toxic pesticides to be used by salmon farmers
Under the Cloak of Coronavirus: SEPA open the floodgates to lobster-killing chemicals!
The Ferret: "Fish farm companies ‘bidding to use bee-harming pesticide’"
Revealed: Toxic Neonicotinoid Insecticide Used to 'CleanTreat' Lousy Salmon
Media Backgrounder: Chemically Embalmed Scottish Farmed Salmon
Video Nasty: Chemically Embalmed Scottish Salmon at Kames in Loch Tralaig
Sunday Times: "Chemical fears at Scots fish farms"
Scottish fish farms using cancer-linked embalming fluid as disinfectant
EXPOSED: Mowi's Cache of Carcinogenic Chemicals On Conservative MSPs Estate
EXPOSED: Scottish Salmon's Cascading Use of Cancer-Causing Chemical
Salmon farming giant Mowi probed over chemical use
Fish farming industry bids to relax limits on toxic pesticide
How the Scottish Government ‘nuanced’ away fish farm pesticide ban
Pesticide report suppressed after freedom of information warning
Scottish Government under fire for helping block pesticide ban
Revealed: secret role of US drug company in fish farm pesticide row
Ban on polluting pesticide dropped after complaint from fish farmers
Mapped: the 45 lochs polluted by fish farm pesticides
Salmon farming in crisis: 'We are seeing a chemical arms race in the seas'
The Sunday Times: "Salmon industry toxins soar by 1000 per cent"
Scottish Salmon's Lethal Legacy – Ten-fold Increase in Toxic Chemical Use in Ten Years
Scientific Backgrounder: Ecotoxicity & Chemical Resistance
Media Backgrounder: Scotland's 'Silent Spring' of the Sea
Daily Mail: "The toxic chemicals in farmed salmon straight from the loch"
Scottish Salmon Overdoses on Toxic Chemical
Scottish fish farmers use record amounts of parasite pesticides
Chemicals to control salmon parasites
Appendix:
From: Andrew Saunders <a.saunders@vmd.gov.uk>
Date: Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 3:10 PM
Subject: Official Sensitive: Reply to Freedom of Information Request ATI0658
To: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Dear Don
Thank you for your email dated 20th May 2020.
Your Request
You asked for:
- ‘Further to Scottish Salmon Watch's letter dated 17 March 2020, please provide details on any proposed, in progress and completed field trials of Imidacloprid (Ectosan/BMK08) by the salmon farming industry in Scotland since 2017.
This would involve documentation pertaining to any field trials – however illegal, unsanctioned, aborted, unfinished and/or still in the pipeline – in 2019 (or even earlier) as well as any field trials in Loch Ailort by Mowi and other companies at other locations in Scotland during 2020.
- Please provide information relating to the possible misreporting of chemical use in salmon farming since 2017.
- Please provide information on discussions at a national/UK level with the VMD and other government agencies about Formalin and other chemicals used in freshwater and marine aquaculture since 2017.
Please include emails, letters, internal discussions, Cabinet Briefings, reports, environmental assessments and any other information relating to the above since 2017.’
Our Reply
As a general point, you should note that the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) gives you an entitlement to information rather than documents and it is in this context that we have answered your request.
- ‘Further to Scottish Salmon Watch's letter dated 17 March 2020, please provide details on any proposed, in progress and completed field trials of Imidacloprid (Ectosan/BMK08) by the salmon farming industry in Scotland since 2017.
This would involve documentation pertaining to any field trials – however illegal, unsanctioned, aborted, unfinished an/or still in the pipeline – in 2019 (or even earlier) as well as any field trials in Loch Ailort by Mowi and other companies at other locations in Scotland during 2020.
The VMD is not aware of any current or completed field trials for imidacloprid (Ectosan/BMK08) by the salmon farming industry in Scotland, since 2017.
- Please provide information relating to the possible misreporting of chemical use in salmon farming since 2017.
We do not hold any information on misreporting of veterinary medicines.
- Please provide information on discussions at a national/UK level with the VMD and other government agencies about Formalin and other chemicals used in freshwater and marine aquaculture since 2017.
Please include emails, letters, internal discussions, Cabinet Briefings, reports, environmental assessments and any other information relating to the above since 2017.’
The following sets out the timeline of the relevant discussions concerning formalin.
April 2019
The VMD had a discussion with the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) on the set-up of a medicine data collection system. The discussion included the monitoring of ‘beneficial non-medicinal compounds’ and particularly, formalin.
June 2019
A previous FOI/EIR request was made by yourself on ‘Public Register of ALL toxic chemical use on Scottish salmon farms & Immediate Ban on Carcinogenic Formaldehyde (Formalin)’, dated, 26th June 2019. It is noted that a joint response was given to you with DEFRA as the lead (and in conjunction with SEPA).
November 2019
The VMD met with SEPA and SEPA have subsequently requested more information on the sale/import/production of formaldehyde/formalin for the treatment of fish in the UK.
January 2020
The VMD has met with SEPA and provided information on the use of formalin/formaldehyde with regard to prescribing and when it is defined as a veterinary medicinal product or a biocide.
Scottish Salmon Watch filed this FOI request on 8 July 2020:
From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jul 8, 2020 at 11:57 AM
Subject: FOI re. Well Boats & Salmon Farms Since 1 October 2018
To: <ceu@scotland.gsi.gov.uk>
Please provide information on well boats and salmon farms since 1 October 2018.
– Please include data on chemical use including Azamethiphos, Deltamethrin, Hydrogen Peroxide, Emamectin benzoate, Imidacloprid (BMK08/Ectosan) and any other chemicals, medicines, antibiotics and anti-parasiticides which may be used via well boats.
– Please include any discussions relating to the input, sharing and publication of well boat data on chemical use by salmon farms via 'Scotland's Aquaculture' and SEPA's 'Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory' (this would include dialogue with salmon farmers, chemical companies and government agencies).
– Please include copies of any well boat licences issued since 1 October 2018.
– Please provide information on well boat bio-security, cleaning, mort disposal, diseases and chemical waste discharges in relation to salmon farming (including information relating to how and where the wastes, effluents and mortalities are discharged, transported and disposed of).
– Please include any information relating to the transfer of licensing/regulatory powers for well boats from the Scottish Government (Marine Scotland) to SEPA including Cabinet Briefings, emails, letters and any other information.
For example, a redacted email dated 6 December 2018 (believed to be from Marine Scotland) obtained by Scottish Salmon Watch from the Scottish Government via FOI in December 2019 stated:
"The position for now is very clear. MS has been the licensing authority for wellboat discharges for the last 8 years, However, and as the Cabinet Secretary [Fergus Ewing] will be aware from the discussions at the Aquaculture Industry Leadership Group, Marine Scotland have been actively looking at moving forward on the recommendation from the 2016 'Independent review of Aquaculture Consents', which looked at the licensing role for wellboat discharge moving to SEPA. That recommendation has raised some challenges but it still under active consideration and we are hopeful (sic) close to a conclusion"
Scottish Salmon Watch is interested in why the transfer of licensing from Marine Scotland to SEPA is taking so long and why well boat data on chemical use by salmon farms is not posted publicly in a more speedy manner.
Further context is available online here
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 for this FOI request.
Thanks,
Don Staniford
Director, Scottish Salmon Watch
Read more details online here
