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| MSPs warning over salmon farming impact on environment | MSPs warning over salmon farming impact on environment |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Scotland's marine ecosystem faces "irrecoverable damage" from salmon farming if environmental concerns are not addressed, according to MSPs. | Scotland's marine ecosystem faces "irrecoverable damage" from salmon farming if environmental concerns are not addressed, according to MSPs. |
| Holyrood's environment committee said fish mortality was at "unacceptable levels". | |
| A report concluded that there has been little progress in tackling environmental problems since 2002. | A report concluded that there has been little progress in tackling environmental problems since 2002. |
| The Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation insisted it was committed to long-term sustainability. | The Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation insisted it was committed to long-term sustainability. |
| Salmon is Scotland's single biggest food export - worth £600m - and is estimated to provide nearly 2,500 jobs with thousands more supported by the aquaculture sector in rural and coastal communities. | Salmon is Scotland's single biggest food export - worth £600m - and is estimated to provide nearly 2,500 jobs with thousands more supported by the aquaculture sector in rural and coastal communities. |
| But it has faced continuing problems tackling parasitic sea lice which attach themselves to the skin of the fish and can be transferred to passing wild salmon. | But it has faced continuing problems tackling parasitic sea lice which attach themselves to the skin of the fish and can be transferred to passing wild salmon. |
| With the industry planning a huge expansion over the next decade, the committee said Scotland is at "a critical point in considering how salmon farming develops in a sustainable way in relation to the environment". | With the industry planning a huge expansion over the next decade, the committee said Scotland is at "a critical point in considering how salmon farming develops in a sustainable way in relation to the environment". |
| Some environmental groups have raised concerns about the use of chemicals to treat the lice and the risk of killing the salmon by bathing them in warm water to "shock" the lice into falling off. | Some environmental groups have raised concerns about the use of chemicals to treat the lice and the risk of killing the salmon by bathing them in warm water to "shock" the lice into falling off. |
| The environment committee came to 12 conclusions, including: | The environment committee came to 12 conclusions, including: |
| The report also called for a "precautionary" approach to expansion of the industry based on outstanding environmental concerns being resolved. It added: "The status quo is not an option." | The report also called for a "precautionary" approach to expansion of the industry based on outstanding environmental concerns being resolved. It added: "The status quo is not an option." |
| The Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation said: "Until the report is officially published and the industry has time to read and consider its findings we cannot make any specific comments. | The Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation said: "Until the report is officially published and the industry has time to read and consider its findings we cannot make any specific comments. |
| "However, the industry takes this Inquiry very seriously and has provided written and oral evidence to the committee to highlight our commitment to long-term sustainability through high standards of fish health, husbandry and environmentally responsible production. | "However, the industry takes this Inquiry very seriously and has provided written and oral evidence to the committee to highlight our commitment to long-term sustainability through high standards of fish health, husbandry and environmentally responsible production. |
| "With investment of over £50m in new innovations and around £10m per year spent on research, it is clear that the Scottish salmon farming industry is proud of its achievement to become the UK's top food export. | "With investment of over £50m in new innovations and around £10m per year spent on research, it is clear that the Scottish salmon farming industry is proud of its achievement to become the UK's top food export. |
| "We are determined to address any challenges to the sector maintaining that position." | "We are determined to address any challenges to the sector maintaining that position." |
| The report on the environmental impact of salmon farming is being sent to the Scottish Parliament's rural economy committee which is conducting a wider inquiry into the sector. | The report on the environmental impact of salmon farming is being sent to the Scottish Parliament's rural economy committee which is conducting a wider inquiry into the sector. |