‘New Scientist’ magazine has obtained a copy of a 178-page report which forms part of the ongoing £4 million study into the industry, which was launched by the UK government in 1999.

In the leaked document it is alleged that chemicals such as cypermethrin, azamethiphos or teflubenzuron are damaging small crustaceans and other marine wildlife, which could be crucial to the survival of other species. These chemicals are often used by farmers to rid fish of sea lice.

The report also claims that many fish farmers seriously hampered the researchers in their efforts to collect information. Project leader Kenny Black from Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, which has been carrying out much of the research, described problems in getting access to sites and information as “very frustrating”.

Friends of the Earth, who have campaigned against the industry for many years, welcomed the report. Chief executive Kevin Dunion said: “These worrying findings suggest that the impact of salmon farming may not be localised, as the industry and authorities have so far claimed. Despite being withheld from the public these findings must be passed to the current Parliamentary inquiry into the aquaculture industry.”

But the director at Dunstaffnage, Graham Shimmield, stresses that the research is still in progress and that the impact may not be as large as some have suggested.

“Laboratory experiments so far suggest that fish-farm chemicals may have an effect,” he said. “The challenge now is to quantify that effect.”

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