Chamber and committees

I will introduce the theme of environmental impacts. The committee has heard about continuing concern regarding the environmental impact of salmon farming. I am interested to know whether current scientific understanding supports those concerns. Also, in the previous session of Parliament, the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee welcomed the UK technical advisory group’s recommendation that there should be a new environmental quality standard for the toxic sea lice insecticide emamectin benzoate or, as it is often called, Slice. Six years later, that new standard still has not been applied to existing farms, which have carried on discharging the chemicals at the same levels. Is there scientific evidence on the damage that that and other medicines that are used in salmon farming cause? Should their environmental impact be assessed? I put that to Lynne Sneddon first.

I have a supplementary question about that. Sam Martin, I liked how you described physical treatments as “integrated pest management”. I had only previously heard that term in relation to my garden. I understand that those treatments—washing off sea lice and that kind of thing—lead to welfare issues and weaken the fish, so I am wondering about that aspect. Are we tracking the wellbeing of fish when that practice is used?

Also, I have seen images of sea lice eating fish alive, but you said that sea lice do not kill fish. Seeing sea lice on fish looks horrific. I can imagine that they would certainly weaken the fish. Do we have any scientific process for measuring and tracking that?

It makes sense. However, having just heard what Lynne Sneddon said about the pain threshold of fish, I find the situation even more concerning.

Does anybody else have any experience of that or on the weakening of fish through the use of physical treatments?

How do you know that?

What does that extensive research entail?

Convener, Lynne Sneddon has indicated that she wants to come in.

I want to come in on the back of Emma Roddick’s questions. Professor Sneddon mentioned wrasse and lumpfish—or what we collectively call cleaner fish. We have been focusing on the welfare of salmon, but will you describe the welfare of lumpfish and wrasse when they are in salmon cages? Do you have any concerns about them?

Can I clarify something? When you talk about a reduction in biomass, you are talking about a reduction in the number of fish. If that keeps getting reduced, at some point it becomes economically impossible for a farm to operate. Is that right?

I am interested in understanding whether you think that sufficient progress has been made in the implementation of the previous RECC inquiry’s recommendations on the environmental impacts of salmon farming. In particular, I would like to hear your thoughts about climate change and spatial planning.