Call for Scottish government to protect farmed fish

Credit: Viva!

The initiative aims to address a gap in current protections for farmed fish, including salmon, which are not adequately protected within the current framework in Scotland.

Scotland is the third largest salmon producer in the world. It is responsible for harvesting approximately 37.7 million salmon per year on 200 farms. Salmon are farmed in intensive conditions, which includes sea cages.

Fish have legal protections in Scotland under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, which requires a keeper to meet their welfare needs, such as the need for a suitable environment.

Fish must also be spared unnecessary suffering. They also have protections under the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing Regulations (Scotland) 2012 and The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Scotland) Regulations 2006.

However, the fish farming industry is not complying with these obligations, the foundation said. It argues that a lack of an official guidance has led to confusion and uncertainty within the industry, with farmers struggling to understand how to meet their legal responsibilities.

“The lack of official guidance on fish welfare makes it harder to give practical effect to the Animal Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006” said advocate Jamie Gardiner.

Ariane Burgess MSP added: “The least these animals deserve is for their basic welfare to be protected. Fish farm operators need to know how to meet their legal obligations to protect the fish they farm. That’s why guidance for the industry is so important.”

Despite having the power to do so under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, the Scottish government has failed to issue official guidance..

“The welfare of farmed fish is a critical issue that demands our attention,” said Vanessa Johansson of The Animal Law Foundation.

She added: “Official guidance is needed to ensure that legal compliance is understood and non-compliance is enforced. Currently the Scottish government won’t create this guidance, instead relying on the industry Code of Good Practice, yet it won’t enforce the one that already exists due to it not being an official code, this is a catch 22. It is unacceptable that the industry effectively regulates itself.”