Salmon fishery interests says escape management in fish farming is poor

Roger Brook, chairman of the Argyll District Salmon Fishery Board and the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland, told the Scotsman that the incident was more proof that escapes will persist until the companies put the necessary resources into robust equipment and training. "Escapes are routinely blamed on either predator attacks, causing holes in the cages, or operator error. If the cages are located in open waters to which the natural wildlife of Scotland has access, then they must be capable of withstanding any attack,” Brook said. He also underlined that those employed on fish farms must be professionally trained, and added: “Time and time again, the salmon farming industry's much-vaunted code of practice to prevent escapes has been shown to be ineffectual. It is becoming ever more evident that the code does not stop escapes – rather it serves to ensure that all the farms operate at the lowest common standard."