In Too Deep Revised Final Draft 27 11 01.pdf

Philip Lymbery is an international animal welfare consultant. In 1992, his report, The Welfare of Farmed Fish, was the UK's first to look at the welfare issues in salmon and trout farming. This was written whilst working for Compassion In World Farming (1990-2000), where he spent the last 7 years as Campaigns Director. Maintaining a special interest in fish welfare, Philip submitted both written and oral evidence to the subsequent investigation of the industry by the Government's advisory Farm Animal Welfare Council. He has also been advisor to the Aquaculture Standards Committee of organic farming body, the Soil Association. Summary of Recommendations 58 Appendices 60 References 62 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Farmed fish now represent the UK's second largest livestock sector after broiler chickens. The vast majority of the 70 million farmed fish produced annually in the UK are reared intensively. Intensive fish farming, whereby large numbers of fish are confined in a small area, causes serious welfare problems that need to be addressed urgently to prevent further widespread suffering. Up to 50,000 salmon are confined in each sea cage. They are reared at stocking densities equivalent to each three quarters of a metre long (2.5 ft) salmon being allocated a bathtub of water. Packed this tightly, these natural wanderers of the ocean swim as a group, or shoal, in incessant circles around the cage, like the pacing up and down of caged zoo animals. Fins and tails become worn and damaged as the fish rub against the cage sides or each other. The stress of crowding and confinement can manifest itself in increased susceptibility to disease. The eye of a fish is highly sensitive to disease or stress. In recent years, high incidences of severe cataracts have been found in intensively farmed salmon and other species. These often cause blindness. Researchers have described these cataracts as a " production disease " potentially affecting any industrial scale intensive fish farm. They go on to say that " Perhaps more important than the economical losses are the animal welfare aspects, which in the long term may arouse doubts on the ethical standards of industrial fish farming among consumers ". Salmon farming has also been hit by waves of serious disease outbreaks, such as Furunculosis and Infectious Salmon Anaemia, causing the deaths of millions of fish. Farmed salmon suffer high rates of mortality. Average losses of 10-30% of fish are experienced during the …