MEMBERS of Ocean Rebellion staged an awareness campaign day at Newton Abbot’s Sainsbury’s store on Saturday.

They were there to raise awareness of their concerns about the salmon farming industry.

Ocean Rebellion activist Mike Puleston, from Newton Abbot, said: ‘We had a good reception from shoppers as they went past us.

‘We had members there from Ocean Rebellion Torbay and South Devon.’

He added: ‘Ocean Rebellion are here today to engage with local people of Newton Abbot to raise awareness of the salmon farming industry which is unsustainable, environmentally damaging and has huge welfare issues for the farmed Salmon and wild cleaner fish are used in production.

‘This store sells Scottish Salmon products from Aquaculture facilities in the main owned by large Norwegian and Dutch companies.

‘Farmed Salmon which can spend up to two years swimming around and around an open pen suspended in a Sea Loch, are constantly predated on by Sea Lice (Copeopod crustaceans) in effect are eaten alive.

‘There are many, many other issues around Farmed Salmon production, we in Ocean Rebellion alongside many other environmental campaigning groups are working to expose how damaging this industry is  and call for better protection for our marine enviroments and the Ocean.

‘We have positively engaged with many shoppers some who have bought Salmon today, to give out some credible information, to enable consumers to consider buying choices and the enviromental and ethical issues around them.’

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: ‘All our suppliers have to meet our high welfare standards and are regularly required to demonstrate this. This includes site visits and regular health and data reviews to make sure they also comply with all rules and regulations.

‘For further background:

‘Sainsbury’s source all of our farmed salmon from RSPCA Assured farms.

‘We also formally review farms on a quarterly basis.

‘Our supplier has a well-structured and resourced veterinary health team which covers all farms and details of fish health and welfare are supplied to us directly on a farm specific basis.

‘The feeds fed to our salmon are formulated to deliver against the specific nutritional needs of the fish and to provide a healthy and nutritious product for our customers.

‘Cleaner fish’ are also sourced from farmed stock 

‘Sea lice naturally occur in sea water surrounding Scotland and more generally in the northern hemisphere and do not pose a threat to human health.’