Fish farms on alert after activists release thousands of halibut

UK - Fish farms across Scotland were put on alert by police yesterday after hard-line animal rights activists claimed responsibility for an attack on a halibut farm in which thousands of fish were released into the wild.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage was caused at the farm near Kilmelford, Argyll, and marine experts said it was highly unlikely the escaped fish could survive in the wild.

During the incident, ALF (Animal Liberation Front) was spray-painted on a wall and a Scotsman investigation revealed a statement has been released anonymously to a United States magazine boasting: "All the pens were destroyed and sunk and we saw hundreds, if not thousands, of fish swimming free."

After The Scotsman contacted police yesterday to inform them of the claim made on a website, police said they would warn fish farms to step up security amid fears that groups such as the ALF are planning further attacks.

Source: The Scotsman