Please Ban Deltamethrin Use by Scottish Salmon Pharmers!

Please ban Deltamethrin use by Scottish salmon pharmers! @ScottishEPA https://t.co/X81m8zYm5c
Over 2,000 doses of the lobster-killing chemical have been used by salmon farms in Scotland since 2008!@ScotlandMowi @salmon_scottish @kamesfishfarm @scotseafarms @GriegShetland @scotgp pic.twitter.com/TgagUNSJVa

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 24, 2021

Data published by Scotland's Aquaculture (sourced from returns submitted by salmon farming companies to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency) shows that a staggering 2,091 monthly doses of Deltamethrin have been used by salmon farms in Scotland since it was fast-tracked by SEPA in July 2008 (data up to September 2020).  Deltamethrin is an acutely toxic synthetic pyrethroid labelled by the chemical manufactuer as a 'Marine Pollutant' and described "very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects". 

Here's the top 500 highest monthly reported doses of the lobster-killing chemical Deltamethrin headed by Norwegian-owned Mowi (Marine Harvest changed their name to Mowi in 2019 due to "negative consumer perception") with 825 reported monthly doses (but note that the use of Deltamethrin via well boats is not included in the data):

Here's the first doses of Deltamethrin used since SEPA fast-tracked licence applications in July 2008:

Here's the latest doses of Deltamethrin (data up to September 2020 – Q4 2020 data should be posted online soon) which includes the use of Deltamethrin by 'Organic' Sea Harvest at Invertote salmon farm on the Isle of Skye:

If you number-crunch the Deltamethrin data published via Scotland's Aquaculture (2020 data in full should be available soon) here's temporal trends (Mowi, The Scottish Salmon Company and then total for salmon farming sector):

Peer-reviewed scientific research has reported that Deltamethrin is acutely toxic to shellfish.  Alphamax is the trade name for the toxic chemical Deltamethrin – shown by peer-reviewed science to be lethal to shellfish and labelled by the chemical manufacturer as a 'Marine Pollutant'.    An article – "The impact of anti-sea lice pesticides, azamethiphos and deltamethrin, on European lobster (Homarus gammarus) larvae in the Norwegian marine environment" – published in scientific journal Environmental Pollution in September 2020 reported:

The Institute of Marine Research in Bergen, Norway, reported in September 2020:

"Dangerous doses of Deltamethrin typically drifted between 5 & 15 km. In rare cases, the anti-sea lice agent could travel 20-30 kilometres before it was sufficiently diluted to pose no risk to lobster larvae" https://t.co/oqcZ7yEH0f @Havforskningen @SoilAssocScot @SoilAssociation pic.twitter.com/Qif2FaZneo

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 21, 2021

Intrafish reported in October 2020:

Shockingly, 'Organic' Sea Harvest which is certified by the Soil Association has used Deltamethrin (Alphamax) at their salmon farm off the Isle of Skye.

Toxic 'Organic' Scamon – Why does @SoilAssociation allow 'organic' salmon farmers to use the toxic chemical Deltamethrin (shown by peer-reviewed science published in 2020 to be lethal to lobsters)? @SoilAssocScot @HelenBOrganic @jamescashmore @JoLewisSA https://t.co/2yerGjeTEi pic.twitter.com/sDGTilOWfN

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 20, 2021

The claims by the Scottish salmon farming lobby simply do not wash.

Did you know that some of the chemicals used by salmon pharmers are so toxic that they're dangerous to lobsters up to 30km away? https://t.co/AfH9v23Sql
That's a lot of football pitches! @ScottishEPA @Havforskningen @ScotlandMowi @scotseafarms @salmon_scottish @JohnAitchison1 https://t.co/yEQUJxIof8

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 23, 2021

Another scientific paper – "Environmental Risks of Synthetic Pyrethroids Used by the Salmon Industry in Chile" – published in January 2020 in Pyrethroid Insecticides concluded that "the application of pyrethroids [Deltamethrin & Cypermethrin] may trigger some unintended risks to nontarget organisms, particularly copepods".

A scientific paper published in Frontiers in Marine Science in January 2021 concluded that "pesticides in marine waters have the potential for altering local primary production fluxes and therefore can impact biological ecosystem productivity".

Scientific research presented in 2018 reported lethal impacts of the use of Deltamethrin (and other toxic chemicals used on salmon farms):

A scientific paper published in Aquatic Toxicology in May 2020 reported "that toxic concentrations of deltamethrin could reach shrimp larvae several kilometers from a treated salmon farm":

A scientific paper published in 2014 reported on the toxicity of Deltamethrin to non-target crustaceans:

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency admitted in 2008 that Deltamethrin is a "potent biocide":

The award-winning journalist Rob Edwards reported in 2009:

A scientific paper published in Nature in 2018 reported lice resistance to Deltamethrin (i.e. the drugs don't work any more anyway):

For a review of the toxic chemicals used on salmon farms read 'Silent Spring of the Sea' and Media Backgrounder: Chemically Embalmed Scottish Salmon.

Just say no to drugs, boycott Scottish salmon!

Read more via:

Sick Scottish Salmon – FOI Reveals Toxic Chemical Use Via Wellboats in 2019

The Devil is in the Data – why no published figures on use of toxic chemicals via wellboats?

Closing the Net on Salmon Farming's Use of Toxic Chemicals

Secret Salmon – On the Trail of Imidacloprid Use in Scotland!

Fury as fish farm pesticide pollution rises 72% in a year

The Ferret: "Salmon farm rapped for toxic pesticide breaches"

Public Register of Toxic Chemicals Used in Scottish Salmon Farming?

Petition: "Stop Toxic Salmon Farm Chemicals Polluting Scottish Lochs"

Toxic Scottish salmon

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

Effects of pharmaceuticals used to treat salmon lice on non-target species: Evidence from a systematic review

Slicegate: Anatomy & Chronology of an Environmental Lobotomy – How the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency was Sliced to death by the Scottish Government and salmon farming lobby

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

Silent Spring of the Sea

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

The Devil is in the Data – why no published figures on the use of the toxic chemicals Azamethiphos, Deltamethrin, Hydrogen Peroxide & Imidacloprid via wellboats? @ScottishEPA @marinescotland @nature_scot @salmon_scottish @FergusEwingMSP @SSPOsays @scotgp https://t.co/ylOo17mBul pic.twitter.com/CDPHpSfBTX

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 10, 2020

 

 

Data on toxic chemical use by salmon farms via wellboats in 2019 is published @marinescotland but where is 2020 data & why does 'Scotland's Aquaculture' NOT include wellboat data or use of Hydrogen Peroxide, Formaldehyde etc? @ScottishEPA @SSPOsayshttps://t.co/7uUbgsOXQu pic.twitter.com/KebWFJ3GdC

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 9, 2020

Addendum:

Why is the toxic synthetic pyrethroid Deltamethrin approved for use in 'organic' salmon farms certified by the Soil Association?

 

Your aquaculture standards – the new updated version was published recently on 12 February 2021 – specifically prohibit the use of organophosphates such as Azamethiphos and avermectins such as Emamectin benzoate:

 

 

 

But why are synthetic pyrethroids such as Deltamethrin and Cypermethrin not also prohibited?

 

The ban on Azamethiphos, for example, is welcome but recent peer-reviewed science published in the journal Environmental Pollution in September 2020 reports that Deltamethrin is even more toxic and lethal to lobsters: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749120302451

 

 

The Institute of Marine Research in Bergen reported in September 2020 via: "New lab experiments show anti-sea lice agent deltamethrin is highly toxic to lobster larvae":

 

“Azamethiphos only spreads a relatively small distance around the farms. In the simulations, a plume of the dose that is dangerous to lobster larvae could drift up to 5 kilometres, but it rarely travelled more than 1 kilometre. Deltamethrin is worse. Dangerous doses typically drifted between 5 and 15 kilometres. In rare cases, the anti-sea lice agent could travel 20-30 kilometres before it was sufficiently diluted to pose no risk to lobster larvae”

 

There's more background and links to scientific papers via a blog: Toxic Salmon Corrodes Soil Association's 'Organic' Principles

 

Scottish Salmon Watch filed a complaint earlier today with the Advertising Standards Authority against the Soil Association: https://twitter.com/TheGAAIA/status/1373629361501392899

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch sincerely hopes that the Soil Association can re-write your aquaculture standards to reflect the new scientific research on the acute toxicity of Deltamethrin.

 

We also hope the Soil Association explicitly prohibits the use of the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid which Mowi (certified by the Soil Association as 'organic' in Loch Ewe and in Loch Leven) wants to use on salmon farms in Scotland. Details via: "Nasty Neonicotinoid Plagues Salmon Farming in 2021"

 

You may have read the Editorial by Professor Dave Goulson of the University of Sussex in the August 2020 issue of British Wildlife: "Neonics in Salmon Farming – Alarm Bells Are Ringing"

 

 

Best fishes,

 

Don Staniford

 

Director, Scottish Salmon Watch

 

 

From: Ian Ayling <iayling@soilassociation.org>
Date: Tue, Mar 30, 2021 at 9:05 AM
Subject: Your enquiry
To: salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>

Hello

You raised a question recently about the use of Deltamethrin in salmon farms certified by the Soil Association

We have explored this to give you a full answer

The Soil Association is committed to securing a world with good health, in balance with nature and a safe climate restored for all

We recognise the concerns of some to the practice of faming salmon but believe it is better to make things as right as possible where these practices exist

Parasite treatments, including deltamethrin, are permitted in the organic standards under exceptional circumstances when other preventative actions have failed and there are no other treatment options. They are not to be used on a consistent basis and we set limits on usage. Sites are required to update their management plans to demonstrate how they will rely on preventative measure of disease control. 

We have reviewed the usage of Deltamethrin in the last year and it was used on 2 occasions across the sites we certify. The vast majority of the farms we licence did not use Deltamethrin.

We recognise the potential harm from the usage of any medicines – this is not unique to aquaculture. We are aware and equally concerned about the potential impact on lobsters and other crustaceans

We will continue to drive for improving our certification standards and the equivalent standards of our European colleagues.

Thank you for reaching out to us with your question

Soil Association team

 

Ian,

 

Sorry – but your reply simply does not wash.

 

You say "the vast majority of the farms we licence did not use Deltamethrin" but if 2 salmon farms certified by the Soil Association did use the lobster-killing Deltamethrin then how many did not?

 

According to the latest Scottish Government fish farm production survey for 2019 (published in October 2020) there were only 4 salmon farms certified as 'organic' – so that would make 50% of salmon farms certified as 'organic' using the toxic lobster-killing chemical Deltamethrin:

 

 

Could you please clarify your "vast majority" claim because, unless the Soil Association has very recently opened the floodgates to the certification of salmon farms in Scotland, it seems that your statement is erroneous?

 

Finally, to reiterate,how can the Soil Association still permit the use of Deltamethrin – shown by peer-reviewed science to kill lobster larvae up to 30km away from salmon farms – when your salmon standards prohibit the use of Emamectin benzoate and Azamethiphos?

 

It is patently incorrect to state that the Soil Association is "equally concerned about the potential impact on lobsters and other crustaceans" when you still permit the use of Deltamethrin!

 

If the Soil Association cared about lobsters – and other shellfish – then it would immediately ban the use of Deltamethrin. 

 

Best fishes,

 

Don