Scottish salmon farming companies are under investigation by regulators for possible misuse of chemicals.
Fort William-based Mowi, formerly Marine Harvest, the world’s biggest salmon producers is one of the firms under suspicion.
A BBC Panorama special, aired last night, revealed Mowi was being scrutinised by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
Farmed salmon are treated with chemicals to ward off disease and infestations such as sea lice but there are limits to their use.
Mowi denied any wrongdoing and insisted medications were used sparingly.
Chemicals widely used in fish farming include hydrogen peroxide and emamectin benzoate, put in salmon feed.
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There are concerns chemicals, faeces and food waste from salmon in fish farm nets could be damaging the environment in some of Scotland’s lochs.
Mowi said it had “confidence” in the numbers it had provided on medication use.
The BBC claimed SEPA’s enforcement team removed documents during an unannounced inspection of Mowi’s UK head office in Fort William. But the company said the visit was part of an audit and was not unannounced.
Ian Roberts, head of communications at Mowi Scotland, said: “We have confidence in what we’re reporting for medications. It is used sparingly, we of course vaccinate our fish to protect them from health, fish health challenges.
“And we have confidence in the numbers that we’re providing so of course we’re supporting SEPA in their audit which has been ongoing for six months and involving the industry.”
Terry A’Hearn, SEPA chief executive, said: “If companies do the right thing, then they have nothing to worry about.”
