Farmed salmon freshwater treatments: EIR release

Information requested

"1. I wish to know how the government assess salmon health and welfare during fresh water immersion of farmed salmon.
2. Please supply scientific data that the Government uses relating to salmon osmoregulation health and welfare during immersion.
3. How long are the salmon immersed in fresh water?
4. Is there a maximum time limit and if so, from what scientific data is this figure based?
5. What biological effects do "fresh water treatments" have on the salmon body?
6. How is the level of pain and distress measured?
7. How is this regulated by the Government?”

Response

Please note that questions 1, and questions 3 to 7 of your request will be handled out with the EIRs because they are not valid requests for written/recorded information under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), but rather questions concerning our policies. It is important to highlight this because your right to review this response will not apply to the answers given to these questions. Further detail concerning the review process is given below.

Response to question 2 of your request

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. Therefore, we are refusing your request under the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs. The reasons why that exception applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.

Additional information provided out with the EIRs to answer your other questions
Under regulation 9 of the EIRs (our duty to provide advice and assistance) we would like to advise you that the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2006 makes provision to promote the welfare of animals and protects farmed animals from ‘Unnecessary suffering’, including farmed salmon. Section 19 (4) of the 2006 Act allows for situations where causing suffering is not necessarily an offence if it is proportionate and for a legitimate purpose, such as medical treatment.

Freshwater immersion is intended to manage sea lice infestations and to treat gill health issues on farmed fish. It is undertaken under the overall direction of a veterinarian, who would appropriately assess if the stress caused by the treatment during freshwater immersion was proportionate in the circumstances for the benefit of controlling sea lice infestation or gill disease, which itself could cause suffering in farmed fish if not treated.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency are responsible for investigating potential breaches in welfare law, and consider concerns reported to them.

It could also be expected that freshwater immersion is undertaken in line with the sector’s Code of Good Practice and any accreditation schemes relevant to a specific company, such as RSPCA Assured.

With regards to duration of immersion of farmed salmon in freshwater during treatment we recommend that you contact salmon producers as they are best placed to inform you of their practices.

Finally, we understand that there is scientific interest within this subject area, and we are aware of a research paper that you might find relevant, linked here. Please note there may also be a wider body of research being undertaken or underway so this research may not be definitive nor exhaustive.

ANNEX

REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION

The Scottish Government does not have the information
Under the terms of the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs (information not held), the Scottish Government is not required to provide information which it does not have. The Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested because it is not held.

This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exception. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exception. While we recognise that there may be some public interest in information about the scientific information concerning osmoregulation of farmed salmon at the time of freshwater immersion and its impact on health and welfare, clearly we cannot provide
information which we do not hold.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.