Teflubenzuron: Leaked govt report reveals fish farm damage. Press release from FOE Scotland. April 25, 2002.

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Teflubenzuron: Leaked government report reveals fish farm damage. Press release from Friends of the Earth, Scotland. April 25, 2002.

25 April 2002 - Press release from Friends of the Earth, Scotland
http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/press/pr20020405.html

LEAKED GOVERNMENT REPORT REVEALS FISH FARM DAMAGE
Concerns Government study being "hampered" by farmers

The cocktail of toxic chemicals used on Scotland's salmon farms may be having a "large-scale effect" on the environment according to leaked Government research [1]. The research, part of an ongoing £4 million study into the impacts the industry, has uncovered an "almost complete absence" of certain key species of crustaceans which according to the scientists "suggests the possibility of a large-scale effect that may be related to the use of chemicals on fish farms." The researchers recommend "further work is urgently needed." [2]

Disturbingly, the report also reveals how the research has been hampered by a lack of cooperation by fish farmers. A combination of problems accessing sites, lack of chemical data and repeated lack of notice of time and quantities of chemicals used is described by one of the lead scientists as "threatening this project."

Commenting Friends of the Earth Scotland's Chief Executive, Kevin Dunion, said:

"In recent years licences for the use of toxic chemicals have been extensively handed out despite widespread concerns as to the environmental consequences yet only now is a longterm study underway to examine the potential effects. These worrying findings suggest that the impact of salmon farming may not be localised, as the industry and authorities have so far claimed. Despite being withheld from the public these findings must be passed to the current Parliamentary inquiry into the aquaculture industry."

"We are disturbed to read in this report what appears to be examples of non-cooperation with the research programme by fish farmers. This is an expensive, overdue and protracted piece of research. Deficiencies regarding the collection of data which are only coming to light in this secret document must be rectified so as not to undermine what the research will ultimately be able to reveal."

ends

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] 24 APR 2002 New Scientist 'Big catch'.

The article intro states: "Toxic chemicals used by salmon farms could be killing off tiny animals that are vital to the marine food chain, scientists warn in a confidential report for the British government leaked to New Scientist."

[2] "The Post-Authorisation Assessment of the Environmental Impact of Sea-Lice Treatments Used in Farmed Salmon" (the 180 page report is the second 'Annual Progress Report') - is led by a consortium of Government agencies (MAFF, DETR, DEFRA, Scottish Executive, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, SEPA, SNH and SNIFFER). The three-year project, which began late in 1999 and is scheduled to be completed in September 2002

[3] Since 1998 the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) had issued over 700 licences to use the toxic treatments at Scottish fish farms: Emamectin benzoate (88 approvals), cypermethrin (273), azamethiphos (238) and teflubenzuron (114)

Some extracts from the report:

On environmental impacts

"The paucity of individuals in the samples, particularly of copepods, is of concern...the abundances of animals in the samples are very much lower than would be expected from shallow sublittoral sediments....If there is an aquacultural activity that is causing the effect, then it is of great concern. As the reference sites appear to have reduced meiofaunal numbers similar to stations close to the cages the impact covers a far greater area than the localised ecological effects normally expected as a result of aquacultural activity. The almost complete absence of copepods, which are crustaceans and therefore expected to be sensitive to sea louse treatment agents, suggests the possibility of a large-scale effect that may be related to the use of chemicals on fish farms. The meiofauna form an important link in benthic food webs and are important promoters of the bacterial breakdown of organic material. Further work is urgently needed" (p82)

"These results suggest that the observed gradient in community structure reflects a gradient in organic enrichment and disturbance associated with aquacultural activities at this site........ At Loch Craignish the species contributing to differences between stations include species from groups known to be indicators of disturbance and organic enrichment, lending strength to the conclusion that the observed differences between stations reflect a gradient associated with fish-farming activity" (p81)

On non-cooperation by fish farmers

"The lack of details of what was administered and in what amounts during treatment, together with the lack of notice of treatments to the consortium is threatening this project and is totally unsatisfactory. (p175: Carol Long)

"It is important to obtain treatment records as soon as possible. It is hoped that the request to SEPA will be successful in facilitating this" (p174: Carol Long); "In spite of requests from all of the farm managers involved, this is yet to be accomplished" (p175: Kenny Black)

"It has not been possible to plan and undertake sampling programs that incorporate a sufficient number of pre-treatment sample days due to insufficient notice of sea lice treatments." (p42)

"It would be helpful if sites could provide FRS Marine Laboratory with adequate notice when they are nearing a treatment period, as this will enable us to prepare pre- and post-treatment sampling trips. More intensive sampling pre- and post-treatment provides essential information regarding primary and secondary effects of the treatment on phytoplankton community structure within the water column" (p55)

"There are some concerns about the relatively low frequency of site inspections...The field work programme has encountered some logistical difficulties, mainly with regard to the availability of fish farm work boats for sufficient time on planned dates, but also with regard to the very short notice (and occasionally no notice) received of proposed treatment(s) for sea lice" (p110)

"The lack of meiofauna samples at Loch Diabeg and Loch Craignish is of concern. It is important for the contractors to have access to sites to facilitate this" (p177: Carol Long)

"I note that azamethiphos has now been used as a treatment at Loch Sunart. It is unfortunate that its use was unplanned in relation to this project." (p173: Carol Long)

"There continues to be a problem in knowing the past and future treatment use at the farms. This compromises the interpretation of all data collected. In other words, without this information available in a believable manner, the study cannot achieve its aims...If the project sponsors do not obtain this data, the consequences must be made clear to them." (p161: Mark Costello: Project reviewer)