Latest news with #Staniford
France 24
3 days ago
- General
- France 24
Meet the ‘kayak vigilante' fighting the Scottish salmon farming industry
Armed with a GoPro mounted on a telescopic pole, Staniford has been kayaking out to salmon farms for over six years. His mission: to film the circular cages holding tens of thousands of fish and expose what he calls "the horrors' of salmon farming. He then shares the footage across his social media platforms: People don't really know what's going on underneath the surface of the water, which is why it's very important for activists like me and others to film inside the cages and lift the lid to show the public what's really going on. Normally I'd kayak out very early in the morning. (...) It's a question of going to the farm when there are no workers. We don't harass workers, we don't intimidate workers. We're trying to film when no one else is there. We can have data on which farms have disease problems, which farms have deaths and mortalities, and target those farms. Staniford said he filmed around 60 salmon farms, predominantly in Scotland, as well as in Ireland and Denmark's Faroe Islands. 'The more fish you cram in a closed confinement space, the more diseases you get' Footage he captured during one of his excursions in September 2021 depicted dead fish floating on the surface, alongside others afflicted with raw flesh patches or swollen eyeballs. Staniford blames overcrowding for these conditions: You don't need to be a rocket scientist to work out that if you cram animals at high densities, you're going to get diseases. You're going to get viruses, parasites. The more fish you cram in a closed confinement space, the more diseases you get. And this is a function of intensive production. Among these parasites, Staniford says he has found sea lice, which feed on the skin and blood of salmon. Mass deaths In 2023, a record 17.4 million salmon died in Scottish farms, according to government data. The survival rate for juvenile salmon introduced two years earlier was 68.7%. The spokesperson for the industry group Salmon Scotland, Andrew Watson, told the FRANCE 24 Observers team that Scottish salmon farms had succeeded in improving survival rates in recent years. 'Following a £1 billion investment since 2018, we increased survival rates in 2024 to a four-year high. The Scottish salmon sector has delivered the best survival rates on record in the first quarter of 2025, averaging 99.02 per cent, while managing sea lice levels to an historic low,' Watson said. Initial 2024 data announced by the Scottish government in a January 17 report show no improvement in survival rates since 2018. Incidents have occurred in recent months, too. Videos released in June 2024 by activist group Animal Rising and filmed in northern Scotland appear to show fish suffering from burst eyeballs and skin wounds attributed to sea lice. Over one million farmed salmon also died in October 2024 at a Scottish farm operated by Norway's Mowi, the world's biggest producer of farmed salmon. It was the most significant mass die-off of farmed salmon in Scotland in a decade. While Mowi attributed the deaths to jellyfish blooms exacerbated by unprecedented sea temperature rises, campaigners have linked the incidents to the expansion of aquaculture farms and poor welfare. Salmon-farming companies routinely dismiss footage from Staniford and other activists as "selective" and "isolated examples", often attributing damage to external factors. Parliamentary inquiry However, the Scottish authorities themselves are taking up the issue. On January 17, 2025, the Rural Affairs and Islands (RAI) Committee of the Scottish Parliament published a report stemming from an inquiry conducted between April and December 2024. This followed the publication of a first inquiry in 2018. 'The Committee is disappointed by figures showing that mortality has not improved since the 2018 report,' the 2025 report stated. 'The Committee considers the current level of mortality to be too high in general across the sector, and it is very concerned to note the extremely high mortality rates at particular sites,' it also reads. While acknowledging some industry improvements, the Committee wrote it was 'concerned that preventing high mortality events is not currently within the operational capability of industry' and called for 'far greater transparency in reporting mortality rates and disease outbreaks'. The Committee also noted the impact of salmon farming on the global environment. Staniford says the effects of salmon farming go far beyond the boundaries of the farms themselves: The salmon farming industry discharges the waste effluent directly into the sea, which is sewage contamination. It also uses toxic chemicals. There are mass escapes from the farms that cause genetic contamination. And there's also the feed issue. Far from being a panacea for the world's food problem, we're actually overfishing. We're actually contributing to the crisis in world fisheries by fishing down the food chain. Injunctions The salmon farming industry takes a dim view of Staniford's activities. Scotland is the world's third-largest producer of Atlantic salmon, after Chile and Norway, making salmon farming a significant industry in the country. According to industry data, international sales of Scottish salmon reached £844 million (€1,000 million) in 2024, solidifying its standing as the U.K.'s largest food export. France remains the first export market, accounting for 55% of the total value of all Scottish salmon exports. Staniford is currently facing legal action from three prominent Norwegian and Faroese salmon-farming companies. The companies say his intrusions onto their facilities are unauthorised and present significant safety risks to both their personnel and fish stocks. Two of these companies successfully obtained an injunction in 2024, legally barring him from accessing the walkways of their salmon pens. Although Staniford indicated in November 2024 that he was considering retirement, he now appears more determined than ever to continue his fight: I'd love to retire. I'm 53. I'm too old; I don't want to be kayaking out to farms, and I don't want to be leaving my children on weekends. But if nobody else will do it, I will do it. In terms of retiring, if I'm banned from 75% of salmon farms in Scotland, then my job is done here. But maybe I'll just emigrate to Tasmania, Canada, Chile, or even France. They may be able to shut me down legally and have injunctions against me in Scotland. But maybe my retirement in Scotland will pave the way for me to move to another jurisdiction
Hamilton Spectator
23-05-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Sitting for too long can shorten your lifespan and shrink your brain. Why is prolonged inactivity so bad for us?
Modern life demands a lot of sitting. Maybe you sit for an hour-long drive to the office, where you saunter from sitting in cubicles to sitting in meetings. Perhaps you're a bus or truck driver, spending long hours strapped to your seat. If you're anything like me, you unwind from a long day of sitting by sitting in front of a screen for a few more hours. In recent years the moral imperative not to sit has been backed by scientific studies. But here's why sitters are taking a stand. In recent years the moral imperative not to sit has been backed by scientific studies. But here's why sitters are taking a stand. All that sitting builds up. And years of sedentary living can shave years off your lifespan — or even kill you. 'Humans were hunter-gatherers and moving all the time,' said Catherine Sabiston, a University of Toronto professor and the Canada Research Chair in physical activity and mental health. 'So now that we've become more sedentary, there are all these extra detriments to our physical and mental health.' In May of 2011, 20-year-old Chris Staniford was on his way to a job interview when he suddenly collapsed dead outside the Sheffield, England job centre. Staniford's family told reporters their child was an avid gamer, often spending up to 12 hours straight on Xbox Live. The night before he died, Staniford was reportedly up late gaming when he felt a pounding in his chest . He ignored it and went to sleep. The findings are based on country-reported data of more than 7,000 toddlers across 14 years, and studied at least 40 children in Canada and 32 The findings are based on country-reported data of more than 7,000 toddlers across 14 years, and studied at least 40 children in Canada and 32 During the autopsy, a coroner found a blood clot wedged deep inside Staniford's lungs. This clot, known as a deep vein thrombosis, had originally crystalized in his left calf; it was nurtured in the pooled blood of his resting leg, where the blood vessels were obstructed by hours of uninterrupted sitting. One day, the clot broke free, migrated into Staniford's lungs and caused his death — a pulmonary embolism. It's a rare but not unprecedented outcome of prolonged sitting, explained Jason Au, an assistant professor of kinesiology at the University of Waterloo whose lab is researching the subject. 'This is not a concern for most of the population who sit during the day,' he said, noting that people who sit for more than eight hours at a time without moving are only at mild risk. 'It is extremely unlikely that this will occur in an office setting.' Pulmonary embolism is a rare and extreme outcome of a sedentary lifestyle. Sitting for too long can cut our lives short in other ways. Every time we move, our activated muscles are also stroking and squeezing nearby blood vessels, helping to push blood, as well as the oxygen and nutrients it carries, to the muscles and organs where it's needed. When we sit — even if only for an hour — the resting muscles and obstructed blood vessels in our legs can allow blood to pool, Au said. Over time, it can reduce blood flow , shrink the size of our arteries and contribute to swelling in the legs. Too much sitting has been linked to obesity, high blood pressure, worse blood-lipid profiles, metabolic issues like type two diabetes, and musculoskeletal issues like back pain and muscle fatigue. It's also associated with heart disease and cancer. Researchers found people who spent more than eight hours a day sitting with no physical activity had about the same risk of dying as those who smoke or are obese. And the longer you spend inactive, the higher your risk of all-cause mortality, suggested a similar 2014 paper that surveyed older women . 'Whether someone gets metabolic disease or cardiovascular disease, the end result unfortunately is death,' Au said. 'These things don't happen overnight. This is an accumulation of lifestyle effects.' Too much sitting can also waste away our brains and heighten our risk of dementia, said Dr. Donald Weaver, a neurologist and senior scientist at the University Health Network's Krembil Brain Institute. 'Everything you do feeds into your brain,' he said. 'As you walk, every step that you take, all of that is information that's stimulating your brain ... Sitting and doing nothing doesn't give you the physical stimulation that we now recognize as an essential component of brain health.' The landmark Lancet commission identified 14 major risk factors for dementia — including two new ones The landmark Lancet commission identified 14 major risk factors for dementia — including two new ones A recent study of older adults found the more someone sat, the more certain regions of their brain shrank and degraded — upping their risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. This happened despite the large majority of participants meeting recommended weekly exercise guidelines. That doesn't happen because you spent one night gaming. It's the result of decades of sedentary behaviour, Weaver explained: 'The foundation for you setting yourself up for dementia or depression starts early in life ... Lifestyle changes that are made in your 20s or 30s are going to have a long-standing impact on your brain health for the rest of your life.' Sitting for too long can also raise our risk of depression and anxiety, hamper our emotional regulation and reduce our motivation, Sabiston said. The result is worse overall mental health. 'Generally speaking, if you live more sedentary, then it disrupts other lifestyle behaviours like sleep and physical activity as well,' she added. The average Canadian adult spends 9.8 hours of their waking lives sedentary, including 5.7 hours spent sitting and 3.2 hours staring at a screen recreationally, according to Statistics Canada . That's too much inactivity — Canadian guidelines recommend no more than eight hours of sedentary behaviour. And the research is split on how much of this damage is reversible. Some studies suggest regular exercise can counteract poor health outcomes no matter how much we sit, while others note health affects regardless of exercise. You're too busy to exercise, right? Your job consumes all your time. You're strapped by professional and family demands. As you get more and more You're too busy to exercise, right? Your job consumes all your time. You're strapped by professional and family demands. As you get more and more The best way to counter inactivity is to break up our sitting time, the experts say. For example, after sitting for an hour, take two to three minutes to walk and stretch your legs, Sabiston said. Outside of work, try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week and at least two sessions of muscle strengthening exercises, according to the Canadian 24 hour Movement Guidelines . The sooner we incorporate regular physical activity into our lives and limit our time sitting, the better our future health outcomes, according to the experts. But even if we can't fully alleviate the health outcomes following decades of sedentary behaviour, getting more exercise can still benefit our health. 'It's never too late to get up and get active,' Weaver said. 'But the sooner you do it in your life, the better.'
Toronto Star
23-05-2025
- Health
- Toronto Star
Sitting for too long can shorten your lifespan and shrink your brain. Why is prolonged inactivity so bad for us?
Modern life demands a lot of sitting. Maybe you sit for an hour-long drive to the office, where you saunter from sitting in cubicles to sitting in meetings. Perhaps you're a bus or truck driver, spending long hours strapped to your seat. If you're anything like me, you unwind from a long day of sitting by sitting in front of a screen for a few more hours. Contributors Opinion Cathrin Bradbury: In defence of sitting: The much-maligned practice has been pathologized — but here's what's missing In recent years the moral imperative not to sit has been backed by scientific studies. But here's why sitters are taking a stand. Contributors Opinion Cathrin Bradbury: In defence of sitting: The much-maligned practice has been pathologized — but here's what's missing In recent years the moral imperative not to sit has been backed by scientific studies. But here's why sitters are taking a stand. All that sitting builds up. And years of sedentary living can shave years off your lifespan — or even kill you. 'Humans were hunter-gatherers and moving all the time,' said Catherine Sabiston, a University of Toronto professor and the Canada Research Chair in physical activity and mental health. 'So now that we've become more sedentary, there are all these extra detriments to our physical and mental health.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW In rare cases, sitting for too long can kill you In May of 2011, 20-year-old Chris Staniford was on his way to a job interview when he suddenly collapsed dead outside the Sheffield, England job centre. Staniford's family told reporters their child was an avid gamer, often spending up to 12 hours straight on Xbox Live. The night before he died, Staniford was reportedly up late gaming when he felt a pounding in his chest. He ignored it and went to sleep. Health More than 85% of toddlers are getting too much screen time and not enough sleep or physical activity, new study shows The findings are based on country-reported data of more than 7,000 toddlers across 14 years, and studied at least 40 children in Canada and 32 Health More than 85% of toddlers are getting too much screen time and not enough sleep or physical activity, new study shows The findings are based on country-reported data of more than 7,000 toddlers across 14 years, and studied at least 40 children in Canada and 32 During the autopsy, a coroner found a blood clot wedged deep inside Staniford's lungs. This clot, known as a deep vein thrombosis, had originally crystalized in his left calf; it was nurtured in the pooled blood of his resting leg, where the blood vessels were obstructed by hours of uninterrupted sitting. One day, the clot broke free, migrated into Staniford's lungs and caused his death — a pulmonary embolism. It's a rare but not unprecedented outcome of prolonged sitting, explained Jason Au, an assistant professor of kinesiology at the University of Waterloo whose lab is researching the subject. 'This is not a concern for most of the population who sit during the day,' he said, noting that people who sit for more than eight hours at a time without moving are only at mild risk. 'It is extremely unlikely that this will occur in an office setting.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Pulmonary embolism is a rare and extreme outcome of a sedentary lifestyle. Sitting for too long can cut our lives short in other ways. What years of sitting does to your body Health Don't be afraid to prescribe exercise to elderly patients, fitness experts tell doctors TORONTO - Bob Bursach has worked with professional athletes over the course of his career as a personal trainer — but these days, he's focused… Health Don't be afraid to prescribe exercise to elderly patients, fitness experts tell doctors TORONTO - Bob Bursach has worked with professional athletes over the course of his career as a personal trainer — but these days, he's focused… Every time we move, our activated muscles are also stroking and squeezing nearby blood vessels, helping to push blood, as well as the oxygen and nutrients it carries, to the muscles and organs where it's needed. When we sit — even if only for an hour — the resting muscles and obstructed blood vessels in our legs can allow blood to pool, Au said. Over time, it can reduce blood flow, shrink the size of our arteries and contribute to swelling in the legs. Too much sitting has been linked to obesity, high blood pressure, worse blood-lipid profiles, metabolic issues like type two diabetes, and musculoskeletal issues like back pain and muscle fatigue. It's also associated with heart disease and cancer. Researchers found people who spent more than eight hours a day sitting with no physical activity had about the same risk of dying as those who smoke or are obese. And the longer you spend inactive, the higher your risk of all-cause mortality, suggested a similar 2014 paper that surveyed older women. 'Whether someone gets metabolic disease or cardiovascular disease, the end result unfortunately is death,' Au said. 'These things don't happen overnight. This is an accumulation of lifestyle effects.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW What a sedentary life does to your brain Too much sitting can also waste away our brains and heighten our risk of dementia, said Dr. Donald Weaver, a neurologist and senior scientist at the University Health Network's Krembil Brain Institute. 'Everything you do feeds into your brain,' he said. 'As you walk, every step that you take, all of that is information that's stimulating your brain ... Sitting and doing nothing doesn't give you the physical stimulation that we now recognize as an essential component of brain health.' Health Nearly half of dementia cases can be prevented or delayed, a major new study suggests. Here's how The landmark Lancet commission identified 14 major risk factors for dementia — including two new ones Health Nearly half of dementia cases can be prevented or delayed, a major new study suggests. Here's how The landmark Lancet commission identified 14 major risk factors for dementia — including two new ones A recent study of older adults found the more someone sat, the more certain regions of their brain shrank and degraded — upping their risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. This happened despite the large majority of participants meeting recommended weekly exercise guidelines. That doesn't happen because you spent one night gaming. It's the result of decades of sedentary behaviour, Weaver explained: 'The foundation for you setting yourself up for dementia or depression starts early in life ... Lifestyle changes that are made in your 20s or 30s are going to have a long-standing impact on your brain health for the rest of your life.' Sitting for too long can also raise our risk of depression and anxiety, hamper our emotional regulation and reduce our motivation, Sabiston said. The result is worse overall mental health. 'Generally speaking, if you live more sedentary, then it disrupts other lifestyle behaviours like sleep and physical activity as well,' she added. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Can I undo the damage? The average Canadian adult spends 9.8 hours of their waking lives sedentary, including 5.7 hours spent sitting and 3.2 hours staring at a screen recreationally, according to Statistics Canada. That's too much inactivity — Canadian guidelines recommend no more than eight hours of sedentary behaviour. And the research is split on how much of this damage is reversible. Some studies suggest regular exercise can counteract poor health outcomes no matter how much we sit, while others note health affects regardless of exercise. Life Too busy to get fit? Here's how to work exercise into your packed schedule You're too busy to exercise, right? Your job consumes all your time. You're strapped by professional and family demands. As you get more and m… Life Too busy to get fit? Here's how to work exercise into your packed schedule You're too busy to exercise, right? Your job consumes all your time. You're strapped by professional and family demands. As you get more and m… The best way to counter inactivity is to break up our sitting time, the experts say. For example, after sitting for an hour, take two to three minutes to walk and stretch your legs, Sabiston said. Outside of work, try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week and at least two sessions of muscle strengthening exercises, according to the Canadian 24 hour Movement Guidelines. The sooner we incorporate regular physical activity into our lives and limit our time sitting, the better our future health outcomes, according to the experts. But even if we can't fully alleviate the health outcomes following decades of sedentary behaviour, getting more exercise can still benefit our health. 'It's never too late to get up and get active,' Weaver said. 'But the sooner you do it in your life, the better.'
BBC News
26-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Devon cyclist does final ride for charity before leg amputation
A cyclist from Exeter has planned a final ride to raise money for charity before voluntarily having both legs Staniford said the ride on Sunday would raise money for four charities - Devon Air Ambulance, Wheels for Wellbeing, Exeter UNESCO City of Literature and the Devon and Exeter has MDT syndrome, a rare genetic condition, which he said limited his "mobility and my ability to be active".His first operation is scheduled for 21 May to remove his right leg and then his left leg is due to be amputated at a later date. He said he had always enjoyed riding a bike and when he was younger enjoyed distance running but as his condition progressed running became painful. Mr Staniford said: "Because I'm not putting weight on my feet and because I'm not using my feet the bone density is dropping, which means that now the bones are starting to crumble and that is poses an increasingly large infection risk."To avoid that infection risk and also to try and give me a bit of mobility and better quality of life we've gone for the elective double leg amputation below the knee." In 2005 Mr Staniford was involved in an accident and was supported by Devon's Air Ambulance, which was why he chose to raise money for them. 'Mark the occasion' He said: "Because I've used my legs so heavily over the years and had such great adventures and great fun with them, it seemed like a shame to just kind of let it go without something to mark the occasion and I thought... might as well try and raise some money for charity at the same time."Mr Staniford said the plan for the cycle was very informal and he hoped to get as many people involved as said the ride would start at Exeter Quayside and cycle to the bike path down to the Double Locks pub and potentially further before returning to Exeter Quay.
