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THE number of salmon escaping from Scottish fish farms has halved in the past four years, an industry body will be told today.

The number of escapes has fallen from 310,000 in 2002, when statutory reporting began, to 157,000 in 2006.

Wildlife experts monitor the number of escaped fish because they can carry disease and affect the genes of wild species if they reproduce.

The figures will be delivered to the ministerial working group on aquaculture, which includes representatives from the fish farming industry, environmental groups and the deputy minister for environment and rural development.

Siden Patten, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation, will tell the group preventing escapes is a vital part of an industry improvement programme.

“Effective containment is a priority. With the exception of the severe storms in January 2005, when a handful of the 278 active sites suffered badly, there has been a significant declining trend since reporting began,” he said.

“As 95 per cent of the tonnage of the salmon farming industry has signed-up to the Code of Good Practice for Finfish Aquaculture since it was launched in March 2006, we hope this trend will continue.”

More than 70 million smolts (young fish) were put to sea in the past two years, and although the 2006 escapes correspond to less than 1 per cent of the total amount of fish, Mr Patten said they represented a significant commercial loss for the farmer.

He questioned critics’ claims of escaped farmed fish outnumbering wild fish, arguing that the Scottish Salmon and Sea Trout Catches Statistics showed 2005 had the fifth highest number of rod catches, with more than 80,000 fish caught.

Of this total, only 230 were recorded as of farmed origin.

“The headline numbers some critics of the industry talk about have little to do with the possible impact. It’s not that simple. The reasons for the decline in wild salmon and sea trout are much debated, as it is an enormously complex issue with a number of potential influences, such as climate change, predation from seals, over-fishing, agricultural run-off and re-stocking, Mr Patten said.”

Last month, fish farm opponents called for an overhaul of the industry after claiming nearly two million salmon escaped in Scotland between 2001 and 2006.

Environmental groups have said it could lead to genetic pollution and threaten the long-term viability of wild populations.

Calum Duncan, Scottish conservation manager of the Marine Conservation Society said: “Any independently verified reduction in escapes is to be welcomed but there is still a long way to go. Our mariculture department will continue to help recognise firms with good practice and encourage other firms to fall in line.

“We hope that whoever is incumbent after the Scottish elections in May will put in a place a marine spatial planning system at sea, which would help balance the aquaculture industry with other interests, particularly concerns over marine biodiversity. This is integral to moving toward a sustainable future.” THREAT TO WILD STOCKS

WITH fish crammed tightly into cages in open water, fish farming is an ideal breeding ground for disease and parasites. Escaped infected fish can take these diseases into the wild and infect the wild population.

Escaped salmon have also interbred with wild varieties, diluting the gene pool and threatening survival rates. Up-river migration of escaped salmon late in the spawning season displaces the already spawned wild salmon eggs.

Fish escapes halved - but salmon farms have 'long way to go'

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