This cowboy – James Lithgow (Chairman of Lithgows & heir to the Baronetcy of Ormsary – the son of Sir William) – was warned by @policescotland for harassment & intimidation https://t.co/9ffifnT4wz What does @HGSalmonUK have to hide? @BetterBreeding @FergusEwingMSP @Feorlean pic.twitter.com/MYDe3W4fut
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 1, 2020
What dirty secrets are hiding at the Dutch-owned Hendrix Genetics Landcatch salmon hatchery at Ormsary on the shore of Loch Caolisport in Argyll?
When Scottish Salmon Watch visited Landcatch's salmon hatchery at Ormsary on 8 September 2020 I was assaulted by General Manager Jarl van den Berg (believed to be the son of Hendrix Genetics CEO Antoon van den Berg).
Hendrix boss Jarl van den Berg plays it heavy like Jimmy! https://t.co/0M4VvZGbaB When filming at Landcatch's salmon hatchery at Ormsary I was assaulted by @HGSalmonUK & @policescotland issued a warning @BetterBreeding Is Jarl the son of Hendrix CEO Antoon van den Berg? pic.twitter.com/yvx3ZQ4TLw
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 18, 2020
When I returned (after informing Police Scotland in Lochgilphead) on 13 September 2020 the visit once again led to Police Scotland being called out culminating in James Lithgow (grandson of shipbuilding and steel magnate Sir James Lithgow and son of Sir William Lithgow, 2nd Baronet of Ormsary) being warned by Police Scotland for intimidation and harassment.
Police Scotland issue warning to Ormsary Estate for intimidation & harassment @HGSalmonUK pic.twitter.com/Kh3jSFhjfd
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 13, 2020
The Chairman of Lithgows and controlling shareholder (pictured in the cowboy hat) claimed I was trespassing (even though Police Scotland confirmed that there is no law of trespass in Scotland), came closer than 2 metres without a face-mask and blocked my car for half an hour before Police Scotland arrived. I phoned 999 since I felt threatened and fearful for my own safety after the earlier assault by the general manager of Hendrix Genetics.
James Lithgow is instantly recognisable by his cowboy hat.
James succeeded his father Sir William Lithgow as chairman of Lithgows in 1999.
Sir William Lithgow and his son James Lithgow both control Ormsary Farm.
James Lithgow is a controlling shareholder (along with his younger brother John) and Chairman of Lithgows.
The emblem of Lithgows is an otter eating a salmon.
It seems that the Lithgow family via Hendrix Genetics and the "very private" Ormsary Estate have privatised a public beach and blocked public access of Loch Caolisport.
Not to mention polluting the beach at Ormsary on Loch Caolisport.
This is not the first incident where Police Scotland has been called out over filming by Scottish Salmon Watch. In this case the Police Constable taking charge admitted that he used to be employed by salmon farming giant Scottish Sea Farms.
In two other incidents – in July 2020 and July 2019 – the Police Constables involved acted as if they worked for Scottish Sea Farms (leading to a complaint filed by Scottish Salmon Watch for an abuse of police powers which will hopefully have a positive outcome).
Police Scotland Acting as Private Security for Scottish Sea Farms (yet again)? @policescotland @scotseafarms https://t.co/gVec2N47IW Scottish Salmon Watch today filed a formal complaint against Police Scotland for harassment and against Scottish Sea Farms for reckless behaviour pic.twitter.com/QMenSoJ2GS
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 29, 2020
Read more via "Policing Scottish Salmon – Police Scotland Acting as Private Security for Scottish Sea Farms?" and "Police Scotland Acting as Private Security Enforcement for Norwegian-Owned Scottish Sea Farms?"
Scottish Salmon Watch has informed Hendrix Genetics and the Ormsary Estate that another visit – including sampling of the salmon hatchery effluents for infectious diseases, pathogens and viruses – is planned for 7 October 2020.
Date: Mon, Sep 14, 2020 at 11:47 AM
Subject: 7 October meeting
To: <louise.curtis@hendrix-genetics.com>
Here's video footage of the assault by Jarl van den Berg on 8 September 2020.
Read more via Hendrix Boss Plays It Heavy Like Jimmy!
Dutch-owned Hendrix Genetics bought Landcatch in 2011 from Lithgows (although it seems they only rent the area from the Ormsary Estate).
The Herald reported in June 2011:
The Herald reported in 2012:
Hendrix Genetics reports on the 'History' of Landcatch:
Hendrix's 'history' omits to mention other highlights from Landcatch's past including the spread of the bacterial disease Furunculosis via infected ova imported to Norway and Canada. Raincoast Research's web-site reports:
The Journal of Fish Biology reported in 1994:
A front page exclusive by The National reported (31 May 2018):
A Freedom of Information disclosure by the Scottish Government in May 2018 included various emails from Neil Manchester, Managing Director of Hendrix Genetics Aquaculture (owners of Landcatch):
Another email disclosed by the Scottish Government in May 2018 contained the admission that the Landcatch strain of 'Scottish' salmon originated from Norway in 1980:
The FOI disclosure in May 2018 revealed that Neil Manchester of Hendrix Genetics wrote directly to the Cabinet Secretary of Rural Economy (Fergus Ewing) in June 2016 admitting that "the Landcatch strain originated from three Norwegian strains between 1980 and 1984":
The FOI disclosure in May 2017 also included:
Another Freedom of Information disclosure by the Scottish Government in July 2019 included documents relating to a meeting between Neil Manchester of Hendrix Genetics and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy (Fergus Ewing) in the Scottish Parliament:
Data disclosed by the Scottish Government via FOI in February 2020 detailed imports of ova to Landcatch's Ormsary Hatchery including from Aquagen in Norway back in 2016:
The FOI disclosure in February 2020 also detailed 7.7 million ova imported to Landcatch's Ormsary hatchery from Norway, Iceland and Ireland in 2018 and 2019.
The FOI disclosure in February 2020 also detailed 3.8 million ova imports to Landcatch's Ormsary Hatchery in November and December 2019 from Stofnfiskur in Iceland:
A FOI disclosure by the Scottish Government in December 2019 detailed 2.9 million ova imported by Landcatch's Ormsary Hatchery in 2017:
Another FOI disclosure by the Scottish Government published in September 2020 detailed 3.7 million ova imported to Landcatch's Ormsary Hatchery between January and March 2020:
- Massive Attack on "Rotten Edifice" of 'Scottish' Salmon
- Mass mortalities, disease, deformities, antibiotics and carcinogenic chemicals at Landcatch (Hendrix Genetics)
- Hendrix Boss Plays it Heavy Like Jimmy!
- Norwegian Salmon Ova Slip Back Into Scotland (as Infectious Salmon Anaemia plagues salmon farms in Norway)
- Norway's Infectious Salmon "Horror Show" Secretly Playing Now In Scotland?
- EFTA disclose documents on disease-ridden Norwegian salmon farming but refuse more citing commercial confidentiality
- 'Scottish' salmon resumes imports of "ISA-free" eggs from Norway?
- FOI Reveals Virus-Laden Salmon Slip Net & Into Scottish Waters
- FOI letter to Norwegian Food Safety Authority re. Infectious Salmon Anaemia
- Undercurrent News: "Iceland replaces Norway as main source of Scottish salmon eggs following import ban"
- Letter to Scottish Ministers: "Bio-security Protocols & Safety Precautions re. Ova Imports"
- The Ferret: "Imports of Norwegian salmon eggs banned over deadly virus"
- Norwegian Salmon Egg Exports Banned Due to Disease Risks
- Complete Mockery of the Brand 'Scottish Salmon'
- Hendrix Genetics sees no income, job losses as Norway bans import of Scottish salmon eggs