FishUpdate.com  [Printer-friendly version]
May, 30 2006

FREE TRADE "MADNESS" THREATENS WILD FISH STOCKS IN SCOTLAND

[Rachel's introduction: Since the 1937 Diseases of Fish Act, the
import of live salmon into the UK [United Kingdom] has been virtually
impossible, but this Act is now subservient to the EU's [European
Union's] overriding founding principle of free trade between member
states... "It is simply unacceptable for free trade dogma and profit
motives to take precedence over the integrity of the health of our
native fish stocks. Basic precautionary principles must be upheld."]

SCOTLAND'S wild fish interests are launching a major campaign to
expose the serious risk of devastating and deadly fish diseases being
introduced to the country through the import of live fish. The
Association of Salmon Fishery Boards and the Rivers and Fisheries
Trusts of Scotland claim the spread of diseases and parasites in both
wild and farmed fish is almost always due to the movement of live
fish.

Against a background of some 30 million salmon eggs being imported
from Norway to Scotland this year, there is mounting pressure from
some Norwegian-owned salmon farming companies for them to be permitted
to transfer juvenile salmon to their sites in the west Highlands and
the Hebrides. This, the organisations claim, is despite the fact that
there is more than adequate capacity within Scotland's salmon smolt
producing companies to meet the demands of the industry for juvenile
fish -- to the continuing benefit of employment in remote areas of
Scotland. In addition some of Scotland's indigenous salmon farmers are
fundamentally opposed to live fish imports.

Trade in live fish from Norway is currently prohibited under EU
regulations until certain standards within Norway have been achieved
and disease free zones have been approved. However it is understood
that these conditions could soon be met -- effectively giving the
green
light to trade in live salmon from Norway. This is despite the fact
that Norway currently has a much lower fish health status than the UK
where the benefits of island status have long been reinforced by a
history of strict fish health controls. Since the 1937 Diseases of
Fish Act, the import of live salmon into the UK has been virtually
impossible, but this Act is now subservient to the EU's overriding
founding principle of free trade between member states and EFTA
countries.

Andrew Wallace, Director of the Association of Salmon Fishery Boards
and Policy Director of the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland,
explained: "Norway's dubious history of disease prevention and control
is ringing serious alarm bells for both Scottish wild fisheries
managers and also Scottish fish farmers. Diseases such as Gyrodactylus
salaris and Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) are endemic in both
Norwegian farmed and wild salmon populations with nine outbreaks of
ISA alone in the last year. The trade in live fish is recognised as
being the principal means by which these diseases are spread. There
therefore can be no doubt that any increase in the trade of live fish
will expose the UK's unique fish health position to markedly increased
and unacceptable risks. Norway's poor record on disease control was
highlighted in the recent EFTA Surveillance Authority report, which
does nothing to reassure us that Norway has adequate mechanisms to
prevent the export of serious fish diseases to the UK".

Mr Wallace continued: "Live fish imports could have disastrous
implications for the conservation status of many of our rivers, 17 of
which are specifically designated under the EC Habitats and Species
Directive, and also for Scotland's salmon angling industry, which is
worth some £80 million a year. We are particularly concerned
about the
possible introduction of Gyrodactylus salaris (Gs). This is perhaps as
serious a disease for salmon health and stocks as Foot and Mouth is
for farm livestock -- with one critical difference: once established,
Gs could be impossible to eradicate".

Paul Knight, Executive Director of the Salmon and Trout Association,
commented: "Live fish imports are completely unnecessary and no matter
what safeguards are put in place, they can never be absolute. Just one
Gs-infected fish could spell disaster from which recovery may well be
impossible. It is simply unacceptable for free trade dogma and profit
motives to take precedence over the integrity of the health of our
native fish stocks. Basic precautionary principles must be upheld".
The campaign against live fish imports has been set in motion by the
extensive distribution of a detailed letter, which has been sent to
selected MEPs, all MSPs, the DGs of relevant EU Directorates (SANCO /
Environment / Fisheries), Scottish Ministers, DEFRA, SEERAD and SNH.
The letter is signed by the Association of Salmon Fishery Boards and
the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland and countersigned by every
significant fisheries management and angling body in Scotland together
with many others elsewhere in the UK.

Fishupdate.com (C) 2006