"Alarming" Sea Lice Levels @ Scottish Salmon Farms - Bold New Law Would Allow Unnanounced Inspection

[hatrack]

:eyes:

http://www.fish2fork.com/~/media/Images/Fish/atlantic%20salmon.ashx?w=300

Data released under freedom of information legislation has uncovered what anglers say are "alarming" and “morally indefensible” levels of sea lice infestations at Scottish salmon farms. Official inspections of Scotland’s salmon farms over a two year period recorded 68 cases where levels of sea lice – which can be fatal to wild fish - exceeded the industry’s maximum good practice threshold.

On a further 48 occasions inspectors found that farms had failed to make adequate records of sea lice levels and concerns about misshapen cages and nets with holes that allowed captive fish to escape into the wild were highlighted.

The findings were described by the Salmon & Trout Association as shocking and the organisation demanded that new laws be introduced to force farms to declare sea lice levels publicly every week, as happens in Norway already. The Association called for inspectors to be given the right to make unannounced visits. At present the fish farms are given seven to ten days’ notice of any inspections.

Figures released to the S&TA also suggested that sea lice may be developing resistance to the treatments that are designed to kill them. There were 21 instances when treatments proved far less effective than expected.

EDIT

http://www.fish2fork.com/news-index/Anglers-appalled-at-sea-lice-infestations-revealed-by-salmon-farm-inspections.aspx?sc_lang=en-GB

[XemaSab]

1. XemaSab:

Less effective than expected.