Greens call for pause on new salmon farms
Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess is calling for a pause on new salmon farms in Scotland.
The party’s spokesperson for Rural Affairs has dissented from a section of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee report, published today, which said that there was “insufficient evidence” to support a moratorium on new sites and expansion of existing sites.
Ms Burgess said:
“It is disappointing that the Committee has chosen to reject calls for a pause on new salmon farms when there has been such a lack of progress on the welfare and conditions in existing ones.
“This was an opportunity to take meaningful action to address high mortality rates, environmental harm, and the welfare of farmed fish. Instead, the industry and government are continuing on an unsustainable path, risking long-term damage to our marine environment and rural communities
“Some 25% of farmed salmon die in the pens. Imagine if a quarter of farm cattle were left dead in fields - there would be an uproar about animal rights, but the gap in animal welfare when it comes to fish is huge.
“There are still unanswered questions about the long term impact of overfarming, and a pause would give us more time to assess the cost to communities, and on the environment and other marine based jobs.
“I am concerned about the resilience of our coastal communities' and trying to build their future around an industry that is experiencing a range of problems increasingly brought on by warming seas as a result of climate change, and that is willing to continue allowing 25% of the animals they raise die in their care.
“Scotland positions itself as a frontrunner in support of animal welfare, but this shameless overfarming of salmon is a risk to that reputation. There is evidence that these farmed fish feel distress and pain from their crowded environments, and high mortality rates within the pens.
“We will continue to campaign for reforms that prioritise environmental stewardship, fish welfare, and the long-term sustainability of our marine resources.”
Text of the paragraph Ariane Burgess dissented on
The REC Committee considered there was “insufficient evidence” to support a moratorium on new sites or the expansion at existing sites. This Committee is aware that calls for a moratorium remain, especially given the view held by some regarding the lack of progress in addressing high mortality rates since 2018. This Committee has seriously considered whether calling for a moratorium, or pause, on new sites or the expansion at existing sites would be appropriate. On the one hand, a call for a moratorium would send a clear signal to the Scottish Government and industry that further urgent progress is required. On the other hand, the impact of a moratorium – especially on those directly employed on farms or living in local communities – is unclear, industry agrees that progress is required and has made improvements and innovations and it is the Scottish Government’s role, as well as the industry’s, to drive the change agenda. On this basis, the Committee does not currently support a moratorium or pause on production at this time.