-Caveat Lector- ---------- Forwarded message ----- THE SCOTSMAN, 19th July 1999 Shock Ban on Shellfish Farming. Industry at risk after government scientists find lethal toxins in scallops off west coast. Katrina Tweedie The Scottish shellfish farming industry is in jeopardy after potentially lethal toxins were found in scallops for the first time, prompting the World�s closure of a fishing area. Now the multi-million pound industry and hundreds of jobs are under threatwith more than 8,000 square miles of Scotland's western seaboard barred to scallop fishermen. Large amounts of amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) toxins have been found in scallops. In the worst case, the condition can cause irreversible brain damage. damage. The discovery by government scientists last week has forced the Scottish executive to close fishing waters from the Western Isles to Cape Wrath down to Jura and across to Lewis, Barra and the islands of Coll, Tiree and Mull. Environmentalists have described it as a "toxic time bomb" which is threatening the livelihood of hundreds of fishermen. There are more than 300 registered shellfish farmers in Scotland and more than two thirds are said to be affected and unable to collect the much prized queen and king scallops, a delicacy sent all over Europe. Allan Berry, a former chairman of theShellfish Growers Association, described the ban as "devastatlng� and added; �This could put hundreds of fisherman out of jobs. The fishing industry has already suffered, from several scares and this is not only severely inconveniencing for them but the financial losses could be huge." A recognised expert n toxic and harmful algae, Mr Berry blames over-productive salmon farming for introducing the toxin ASP into the once pristine Scottish water. His claims have been backed by the environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth. "ASP is caused by high levels of ammonia and salmon farmers discharge tonnes of untreated waste, which includes ammonia, into the ocean,� said Don Staniford, a FoE marine research officer. The Scottish salmon industry produced 120,000 tonnes of salmon last year and about 50,000 tonnes of by-products, which contain ammonia. Mr Staniford said; �This outbreak points increasingly to the damage done by intensive salmon farming. The coincidence between the areas affected by ASP and high densities of salmon farms is remarkable.� Environmental campaigners have accused the Government of trying to cover up the crisis after the Scottish executive released a brief and low key statement about the ban. Now they are calling forr a full. and open investigation to establish how large quantities of the toxin, which naturally is only found small amounts, came to be found. Scientists in Aberdeen studying the more common Paralytlc Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) and Diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) first found the toxin three years ago in mussels. The toxin builds up in algae which lies at the bottom on the seabed where feeding scallops are found. If the shellfish containing the toxin are eaten, victimss can experience severe sickness and headaches, vomiting, limb numbness and memory loss. In a recent outbreak in Canada 150 people were affected and four died In 1997 there were 46 tonnes of queen scallops harvested and 27 tonnes of king scallops and production and sales of the shellfish are worth more than �2 million annually. Hans Unkles, a scallop fisherman from Tayvallich, Argyll, said: �The day the ban was introduced I came in with a full load of scallops on my boat and realised Iwas not allowed to sell them, I have had no income since then and while I can cope without fishing for a few weeks, I would rather not.� Experts hope the toxin will break down naturally within a few weeks allowing the fishermen, who dredge the sea bed or dive for scallops, to go back to work. So far, only scallops appear to have been infected, but experts fear it could move up the food chain, A Scottish executive spokeswoman said the ban was a precautionary measure. A statement said; �The action is based on scientific advice following test results from the Government�s sampling programme. These tests showed that the ASP toxin has reached a level at which there is a risk to consumers. No other commercially marketed shellfish are affected by the action.� No one was available to comment from the Scottish Salmon Growers� Association. - DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
