Scottish salmon farming critics are calling today for a ban on exports of the fish to China.
The Global Alliance Against Industrial Aquaculture (GAAIA) claims the Chinese sales are helping Norwegian salmon farming companies to profit at the expense of Scotland’s marine environment and its wild fish stocks.
It echoes concerns raised recently by a charity, the Animal Concern Advice Line, which said Norway-based fish farming giants were getting round a four-year-old ban on direct exports to China by supplying the market with produce from their Scottish operations – and selling more of their Norwegian salmon to Scots.
GAAIA, which calls itself an “international network dedicated to advancing environmentally and socially responsible aquaculture”, says it has obtained new UK Government data showing exports of Scottish farmed salmon to China between January 1 and November 30 last year totalled 9,216 tonnes and were worth £47.8million.
This was compared to just 111 tonnes worth £331,000 in 2010.
Long-time farmed salmon critic and GAAIA spokesman/director Don Staniford told the Press and Journal last night the increase from 2010 to 2013 – without for December 2013 – was a “staggering” 8,203% by weight and 14,340% by value.
He added: “With exports in December expected to be much higher than previous months due to the Christmas market, total exports in 2013 are likely to be more than 10,000 tonnes and over £50million in value.”
The call for an export ban has been timed to coincide with a Highlands and Islands Enterprise seminar, Doing Business in China, in Inverness.
Mr Staniford has been sued in the past for some of his claims about salmon farming, which include concerns about diseases spreading from farmed to wild stocks. He will be attending today’s event in the Highland capital.
“Scottish farmed salmon leaves a nasty taste in the mouth even without the stench of human rights abuses in China and shameless Norwegian profiteering,” he said.
He added: “Scotland’s iconic wild Atlantic salmon and precious marine environment must not be sacrificed at the altar of increasing exports to China to line the coffers of foreign multinationals.
“How long will the Scottish Government allow Norwegian companies to use Scotland as a back door to enter a Chinese market slammed shut in their face back in 2010?”
Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation chief executive Scott Landsburgh said last night: “The people of the Highlands and islands of Scotland should be celebrating the encouraging export figures for Scottish salmon. For the third year in a row our total exports to all markets have grown. China has grown from a very small base to become a decent market.
“However it still has a long way to go to reach the heights of our biggest markets. We sell this fantastic health-enhancing product to people around the world who appreciate the renowned quality of our food and the provenance of our country.
“The Scottish people should be proud of its largest food export and disregard the mutterings from campaigners rapidly losing their credibility around the world.”