Anti-Farmed Salmon Author on the Run

SEAFOOD.COM NEWS [The Scotsman] - February 25, 2004 - The co-author of the damaging report into toxic contamination of Scottish farmed salmon has pulled out of an Edinburgh conference where he was to defend his research.

Dr David Carpenter's study, published in the journal Science last month, sent shockwaves through the aquaculture industry and threatened to ruin salmon farming in Scotland.

Dr Carpenter suggested that no more than one portion of farmed Scottish salmon should be eaten every four months in order to avoid an increased risk of cancer, and that wild salmon contained far less toxic chemical traces.

But, just one week later, the study was exposed as being funded by an organisation with a clear environmental agenda against the industry, with no samples of wild Atlantic salmon actually tested for comparisons of toxins.

Dr Carpenter had been due to defend his findings in front of leading Scottish industry representatives, scientists and toxicologists from the Food Standards Agency at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh on 2 March. But, following advice from colleagues and lawyers, he has withdrawn his attendance at the event, and, according to the salmon farming internet newspaper IntraFish, 'legal action seems imminent'.

The French Seafood Association told IntraFish they have decided to take action against Gavin Anderson, the PR-company, for publishing a press release of the report which they feel used information from the study out of context.

Francois Falconet, of the association, said the legal action was motivated by the publication of erroneous information, adding: 'We are in the process of working with our lawyer on this action'.

Dr Carpenter had also been invited to speak at a conference in Strasbourg next month, organised by the European parliament. However, Struan Stevenson, an MEP, told IntraFish that he had not heard whether the American scientist had meant to attend, but he now expects Dr Carpenter to decline, since he understands that 'litigation is imminent'.

A spokesman for Leatherhead Food International, organisers of the Edinburgh conference, said: 'Dr David Carpenter has withdrawn his attendance at the meeting on the advice of his colleagues, lawyers and university.'

Brian Simpson, the chief executive of Scottish Quality Salmon, representing the majority of the salmon farming industry in Scotland, said his organisation was taking legal advice about the publication of the damaging report.

He told The Scotsman: 'Given the worldwide condemnation of the quality of the science and, worse, the conclusions that were taken from his report, then it is to be expected that when given the opportunity to have it debated with other scientists from our own organisation and others, he felt nervous about attending.

'Anybody who is confident in the findings and conclusions of their scientific research shouldn't really be concerned about that.'

Mr Simpson added: 'Since the report, there has been a definite disruption to the market due to the uncertainty of the public and not knowing how they would react.

'People ordered less salmon for a week or so, but since then most of the retailers would say that we are completely back to normal. There have been a couple of companies gone into liquidation since the report, but I think these were in the pipeline before the article appeared.'

Dr Carpenter was unavailable for comment yesterday.

(C) 2004 The Scotsman. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company.