Salmon research a cynical public relations gesture

No one should be fooled by Mowi’s participation or ‘investment’ in wild salmon research as reported in your October 16 edition – ‘Salmon genetics study launched after Carradale escape’.

This is simply a cynical public relations gesture, designed to gloss over Mowi’s serial failings when it comes to retaining its own fish – of Norwegian origin – within their pens.

Mowi has a dismal record on escapes, the Carradale episode being its second major failing this year. The company is on recent record as recognising that escapes are inevitable and viewed as just another business expense.

In a revealing broadcast interview after the Carradale escape, Ian Roberts, a director at Mowi Scotland, undermined the company’s chief operating officer’s commitment ‘to prevent it from occurring again’ by admitting ‘...moving into locations that are very high in energy and difficult to farm, unfortunately, we have these incidents… it has happened before and it will happen in the future again...’

All is far from well at the Carradale farm.

There are informed local reports of great numbers of mortalities being removed from the farm since the escape.

In the circumstances, it is unpalatable to note Mowi is proceeding with a planning application for yet another mega salmon farm a few miles to the north. If approved, it will represent yet another major threat to the environmental integrity of Kilbrannan Sound.

One can but hope Argyll and Bute Council will have the courage and good sense to refuse it.

Andrew Graham-Stewart, director of Salmon and Trout Conservation Scotland.