LEWIS Macdonald, Scotland’s Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development today welcomed a new report which concludes that veterinary medicines used to control sea lice in salmon farms have no major effects on the environment.

The report’s author will be one of the speakers at the Aquaculture Today 2005 Conference in Edinburgh this week.

The key findings of the report are: -

* No major changes in the ecology of the sea lochs studied were observed and

* If the veterinary medicines used during the study are having impacts on the environment, these are either difficult to separate from the natural variability of the ecosystem or below detectable limits.

The five-year study into the environmental effects of sea lice treatments in salmon farming was led by the Scottish Association for Marine Sciences (SAMS). It was jointly-funded by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Scottish Executive, Defra, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).

Dr Malcolm Dickson, the chairman of Aquaculture Today 2005, said:

“More detailed information on this study will be presented by the report’s author, Kenny Black at our conference this week in his presentation on the ecological effects of sea lice medicines.

“The importance of the report is that it provides factual information in an area dominated by ill-informed speculation from opponents of the industry.

“A report like this which provides clarity on this issue can only be welcomed especially as it is so positive.”

Mr Macdonald, who will give the keynote address at the Aquaculture Today 2005 conference, said:

"Scotland's aquaculture industry makes an important contribution to the country's economy, employing up to 10,000 people either directly or in support services.

"It is important that the industry maintains the highest possible standards of animal welfare. This includes the threat that sea lice pose to the welfare of farmed salmon.

"Equally important, is the industry's responsibility to protect the environment on which it depends.

"I welcome this report which found that sea lice medicines used on salmon farms have had no major impacts on sea lochs.

"These treatments will continue to be regulated by SEPA and other agencies to protect animal welfare, the environment and food safety."

Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Defra and the Scottish Executive, together with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage provided the funds (1.2 million pounds) for a five-year investigation (1999-2004) of the environmental effects of the use of sea lice treatments in salmon farming in Scottish sea lochs. The Scottish Executive contribution was 300,000 pounds and was also supported through in kind contributions from the producers' organisation, Scottish Quality Salmon.

The project was undertaken by a consortium of researchers, led by the Scottish Association for Marine Sciences which is based in Dunstaffnage, near Oban.

This group undertook comprehensive studies of the ecology of Scottish sea lochs where fish farming is being carried out. Their studies examined the effects of sea lice treatments as they occurred on animals and plants in the water column and sediments and shores of sea lochs.

Printer friendly version
Email this article to a friend

Related articles:

• 2005 CONFERENCE REVIEW
• Landcatch - Aquaculture Without Frontiers Competition
• Aquaculture Today 2006 Conference
• Aquaculture conference hailed a major success
• Top offical hits at Norway salmon "running sore"