Reforms Needed for Farmed Salmon: The Soil Association’s Call for Change

The Soil Association has emphasized the urgent need for significant reforms in salmon farming to enhance environmental protections and improve the welfare of farmed fish. This assertion comes as part of a comprehensive 18-month review conducted by the charity, which champions organic standards in the industry.

An Urgent Review of Salmon Farming Practices

Despite their commitment to maintaining the strictest standards in the sector, the Soil Association’s review revealed that these measures have not sufficiently addressed welfare and environmental concerns facing the Scottish salmon farming industry. The organization warns it may withdraw from setting organic standards for salmon unless “meaningful progress” is made within the next year.

Identifying Key Areas for Reform

According to James Cashmore, Managing Director of the Soil Association, the recent findings indicate that the current risks to fish welfare and environmental outcomes are unacceptable. He stated, “Delivering a good life for farmed animals and care for the natural world are at the heart of organic.” While the organization has successfully influenced salmon farming practices over the last two decades, the review highlighted the necessity for further reforms in the coming year.

Proposed Changes to Organic Standards

The Soil Association has proposed a series of reforms aimed at improving salmon farming standards:

• Tougher Actions on Mass Mortality: A full site suitability reassessment will occur after two incidents of mass mortality.
• Phasing Out Persistent Chemicals: The use of deltamethrin, a chemical treatment, is to be phased out, with an immediate aim to prevent its release into the marine environment within the next year.
• Location Restrictions: Stricter regulations will limit where salmon farms can be located, minimizing the risks posed to wild salmon runs and vital marine habitats.
• Enhanced Feed Standards: Only sustainably sourced waste and trimmings will be permitted in the diet of farmed salmon, ensuring fish are not caught primarily for this purpose.

A Call to Action for the Scottish Government

The Soil Association is asking the Scottish Government to establish regulations regarding site suitability, sea lice management, and mortality rates, alongside legislation that sets baseline welfare standards for farmed fish. They argue that these policy changes are essential, as the broader challenges affecting organic salmon farms are industry-wide.

A Vision for Sustainable Salmon Farming

Helen Browning, Chief Executive of the Soil Association, expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the review, reiterating that there is potential for organic salmon farms to become more sustainable while ensuring fish welfare. As the demand for salmon continues to rise, she believes it is imperative for the industry to lead these reforms.

The Soil Association will engage with the salmon industry and the Scottish Government in the coming weeks to discuss these proposals and lay out a clear path forward. Work on these proposed changes is hoped to commence this summer.

For more details, you can visit the Soil Association’s official announcement.

For imagery related to the topic, visit this Main Image on Pixabay.