reLAKSation 373. Callander McDowell
Readers Feedback
Healthy Eating: Our comments about the claims that more consumers are eating salmon because of its health benefits have prompted one of our readers to draw our attention to a forthcoming conference entitled ‘Fresh Thinking on Seafood and Nutrition’ to be held in London on 28 January 2009. This includes several presentations on the value of omega 3 fatty acids. The programme follows:
Full details can be obtained from: Joanna.moore@bios.edu
Up and down part 2: One of our regular readers has said that we were wrong to highlight the any inconsistencies in the Scottish production data. He pointed out that it is notoriously difficult to obtain exact figures for the biomass, which could be out by 15%. We agree, but as we suggested, we would not question the reliability of this data; it was discrepancies by those who used this data that we found to be of concern.
We don’t wish to labour this point but to illustrate what we mean we have uncovered another example which we would like to share. The Framework document includes a review of the current state of the aquaculture industry (page 6) which states:
Scotland is the second biggest producer of farmed Atlantic salmon in Europe, producing about 135,000 tonnes annually with an estimated farm gate value of almost £380 million.
Yet, speaking at the launch of the very same document, at a salmon farm on the Isle of Skye, Scottish Aquaculture Minister Michael Russell said that:
Last year, we produced some 140,000 tonnes of salmon worth almost £400 million….
We can only wonder whether Mr Russell bothered to read this document before the launch.
Strategic Framework consultation document available at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/08/06103512/14
Scottish Government press release available at: