January 12, 2007

Environmental groups urge overhaul after 1 million salmons escape

Environmental groups called for an overhaul of the salmon farm industry yesterday after it was revealed that more than one million fish escaped from their cages in 10 fish farm companies in one year.

According to the Scottish Executive report in 2006, 1.6 million salmons have escaped from their farms in the 3 years from 2003-2005, with 800,000 salmon escapes in 2005 alone.

Environmental groups said "the great escape" could lead to genetic pollution and threaten the long-term viability of wild populations.

Nearly two million salmon escaped from fish farms in Scotland between 2001 and October 2006, including more than half from 10 fish farm companies in 2005 alone.

Nine of the ten farms are Norwegian companies.