Target: Richard Lewis, Chief Executive of the Animal and Plant Health Agency, Scotland
Goal: Hold salmon farming companies accountable and ensure proper investigations into the alarming deaths of millions of fish.
The recent release of inspection reports has unveiled shocking incidents of mass fish deaths on Scottish salmon farms, raising urgent concerns for animal welfare. Reports claim that over 100,000 fish suffocated due to negligence at a major salmon farm operated by Mowi, while in another incident, more than 1 million fish died from a buildup of toxic hydrogen sulphide within just ten hours. Alarmingly, in similar circumstances, the company Bakkafrost allegedly allowed 600,000 fish to die from hydrogen sulphide in 2022, with an even larger incident later claimed to have killed 1.5 million fish. Yet, no enforcement actions were taken by the APHA.
The extent of these alleged failings is staggering, with additional reports indicating that 70,000 fish perished at a trout farm in 2023, with another 7,800 subsequently killed for being deemed “economically unviable.” Shockingly, the operator never reported any deaths to the Fish Health Inspectorate. This apparent negligence not only raises ethical questions regarding animal welfare, but it also suggests a failure of regulatory oversight on critical issues affecting farmed animals. Proper investigations and accountability are essential to prevent such tragic incidents from recurring and to protect the welfare of millions of sentient beings.
Demanding a change is imperative to ensure the welfare of animals affected by practices in the salmon farming industry. The APHA must take immediate and decisive action to investigate these alleged incidents thoroughly and hold the responsible parties accountable. Public transparency surrounding these practices is of utmost importance; it is critical for the welfare of farmed fish and for restoring public trust in regulatory bodies.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Mr. Lewis,
Alarming findings from recent inspection reports have revealed the alleged negligence and tragic deaths of millions of fish on Scottish salmon farms. The reports indicate that over 100,000 fish suffocated at a farm operated by Mowi due to neglect, while catastrophic incidents at Bakkafrost resulted in the deaths of over 2 million fish in two separate occurrences linked to toxic hydrogen sulphide buildup, all without any enforcement action taken by your agency. In another incident, more than 70,000 fish reportedly died at a trout farm, highlighting a disturbing pattern of negligence and a lack of accountability in the industry.
These allegations raise significant concerns regarding animal welfare and regulatory oversight. It is deeply troubling that no punitive actions were taken despite the grave nature of these incidents. The call for transparency and accountability is louder than ever, as the public deserves to know the truth about what occurs on these farms. Allowing such apparent negligence to continue is unacceptable and undermines trust in regulatory bodies meant to protect animal welfare.
We demand that the APHA take immediate action to investigate these allegations thoroughly and implement appropriate penalties for those responsible. Ensuring proper regulations and safeguarding the welfare of millions of farmed fish is crucial, and transparency must be prioritized to restore public confidence in regulatory practices.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
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