This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Positive report on fish farming medicines
11/04/2005
A new report has concluded that veterinary medicines used to control sea lice in salmon farms have no major effects on the environment.
The report found that:
- No major changes in the ecology of the sea lochs studied were observed
- If the veterinary medicines used during the study are having an impact on the environment they are either difficult to separate from the natural variability of the ecosystem, or below detectable limits
Deputy Environment Minister Lewis Macdonald welcomed the findings. He 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) 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.