OFFISHIAL
GUIDANCE
TAKE ACTION FOR FARMED FISH
Unlike chickens and pigs, farmed fish in Scotland are not provided with official guidance that adequately informs the industry how to comply with their legal obligations.
Following a letter from The Animal Law Foundation, the government has accepted that a breach of industry code can be used as evidence of an offence of welfare law.
The Animal Law Foundation argues that relying on the Codes of Good Practice is insufficient as not only does it stay silent on welfare concerns such as killing methods, but numerous welfare concerns have been brought to light that breach the industry code and welfare law, yet a freedom of information request revealed that there has never been a prosecution or formal notice issued to address farmed fish welfare concerns. It is unacceptable that despite numerous welfare violations, there has been no formal enforcement action taken by the government. It is imperative to establish official guidance, a power the Scottish Government possesses under the law, to address and rectify these pressing concerns.
Now, you can help us ensure the Scottish government makes these important changes by sending them an email. Please click the button below to send a pre-written email to the Scottish Government.
Media credit: Viva!
Alternatively, you can download the email to the Scottish Government to send manually by clicking here.
TAKE ACTION NOW
Your support is crucial in achieving our goals. Take action now to urge the Scottish Government to prioritise farmed fish welfare and implement official guidance.
You can also engage with your local Member of Scottish Parliament, urging them to place additional pressure on the Scottish Government to make these important changes. Please download the letter to the right that you can either post or email to your local MSP.
Take action by sending your MSP the following letter:
Contact the Scottish Government over Twitter by clicking the button below:
LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR FARMED FISH
Salmon is the most prolifically farmed fish in the UK. In Scotland it is estimated that 37.7 million farmed salmon are produced each year, leading Scotland to be the third largest salmon producer in the world. However, this number does not take into account all of the salmon that will not survive to harvest.
Farmed fish are protected under welfare legislation in Scotland. The legislation includes The Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, which prohibits farmed fish from experiencing unnecessary suffering and requires that the keeper of the fish must meet their welfare needs, such as a suitable environment. They are also protected under The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (Scotland) Regulations 2012, which provides that animals spared any avoidable pain, distress or suffering during their killing and related operations.
Despite these legal protections, a lack of official guidance explaining what they mean and how to meet them can create a plethora of confusion with industry unsure of what their legal responsibilities are. Instead the industry largely regulates itself via the Code of Good Practice. This is not provided for anywhere under the law. The Code of Good Practice claims to safeguard welfare, yet is silent on meeting the specific requirements. For example, even when stunning is implemented to spare avoidable pain, it is not consistently executed effectively, resulting in unnecessary suffering for these animals.
Multiple investigations on farms have revealed a range of health and welfare issues, such as disease, deformities, painful sea lice infestations and excruciating boredom from swimming endlessly in cramped, barren cages.
It is clear that official guidance is needed yet the Scottish government has argued it does not need one, due to the existence of the industry Code of Good Practice. However, when the Scottish Government has been asked to ensure the Code of Good Practice is enforced it has claimed it does not need to do this as it is not its Code. This is a CATCH-22 that needs to change. It is time to introduce official guidance, something the Scottish Government has the power to do under the law.
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Millions of animals suffer every day due to the improper enforcement of welfare laws. With your help, we aim to ease this suffering by enforcing these laws that exist for their protection.