Industry research has accused Scottish salmon companies of adopting “green wash” tactics to cover mortality, lice and chemical use.
Supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury, Waitrose, Michelin starred restaurants, and even the royal family are all understood to buy fish from seven Scottish salmon companies.
The product is sold as a premium based on high welfare standards, but instead salmon generally suffer from grotesque deformities and illnesses, but the use of preservatives and pesticides is damaging the environment. It is being argued.
The salmon giant has denied “green wash” and claims that fish is healthy and the industry is highly regulated.
The footage was secretly filmed on two salmon farms owned by Mowi, the other owned by Loch Duart. Charity Wildfish, who obtained the video, said he showed bad ulcers in the fish. Deformation of the jaw and spine; erosion of the nose and jaw. Cutting between the fish and the fish.
Group reports, The reality gap: testing of farmed Scottish salmoncomparing the marketing used by seven Scottish salmon farming companies in mortality, lice levels and chemical use, finding that they “cannot properly protect” both fish and environmental welfare.
The report says in 2023, Scottish salmon farms registered a record early death toll of around 17.4 million.
Mowi, the world’s largest salmon giant that supplied Tesco and Sainsbury’s, reported 4.7 million of them, with more than 10 diseases among the fish listed. Mowi, who has a royal warrant, defeated the invasion baysite where the filming took place.
According to the report, farms run by Loch Lake, where salmon is served at royal events, reported a 76.8% death rate in production cycles. did.
However, Wildfish concludes that farmed Scottish salmon is often promoted as sustainable, leading to consumers, supermarkets and chefs being misled about the effectiveness of the industry.
Marketing used includes certification schemes, unique brand labels, and the use of traditional “craftsman” businesses (the traditional “craftsman” businesses).
“The organic standards for farmed salmon do not prohibit the use of pesticides and instead limit the use of a certain number within the production cycle,” the author of the report wrote.
Last week it was revealed that Scottish politicians were thinking “seriously” to ban new farms and expand existing sites due to concerns about high salmon mortality. The impact on work and the community has prevented them from doing so.
The Scottish salmon industry expanded significantly in the 1990s, and one year later produced approximately 200,000 tons of farmed salmon.
More than 40 million liters of hydrogen peroxide (used to treat lice and gill diseases in lice) have been released from hospital by Scottish salmon farming companies between 2016 and 2021, according to the Scotland Environmental Protection Agency.
Salmon served at the 2023 Downing Street Ranch reported using 41,250 liters of hydrogen peroxide in 2023, while Mowi reports using 1,303,069 liters.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say hydrogen peroxide is highly concentrated and corrosive to the skin and eyes.
Wildfish’s Rex Rigby said: “Farmed salmon consumers are selling mistakes. Fish grown in a concentrated, destructive production system where 25% of fish die prematurely, are “responsibly produced and environmentally sustainable.” The idea that there is one is on sale.”
More than 350 chefs, charities and community groups are helping organizations in asking chefs and restaurants to remove open-net farmed salmon from their menu in a campaign called Tables.
Mowi Scotland claims that most of its salmon are healthy, saying, “After the receding well-documented marine heat wave in the Atlantic, the mortality rate on our farm has dropped dramatically.” I said that.
Hydrogen peroxide is a safe, veterinary approved drug, but its use has been drastically reduced, the spokesman said, “Mowi is constantly investing in new methods and technologies to enhance fish welfare capabilities.” Masu.
“The footage from a farm in Invasion Bay is painful for everyone, especially for farmers striving to grow healthy salmon. The clearly edited images represent the majority of fish grown on this farm. I don’t accept that I have. Some inspection audits from the RSPCA guarantee scheme were conducted that year and no issues arise regarding breeding and salmon welfare.
“The claim that the Scottish salmon agriculture industry is “green wash” is simply not true. The Scottish salmon industry is the most highly regulated in the world. Mowi seeks independent certification from third parties, including the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and the RSPCA Assured Scheme.
“For the sixth year in a row, Mowi has been known to be the world’s most sustainable animal protein producer by its Coller Fairr protein producer index.”
The company said it is a member of Salmon Scotland and its Wild Fisheries Fund supports salmon conservation in the wild.
A spokesman for Loch Duart said: Though disastrous, this footage is selectively edited to misrepresent the overall health of our stock and our integrity.
“During the filming period, the site achieved a survival rate of 99.7% at 0.48 and a very low independently verified lice level. Loch Duart provides unparalleled transparency and regulates. It is the only salmon farm that audits local fishery trusts with fish health data before submitting them to the authorities.”
On behalf of the UK retail consortium Tesco and Andrew Opie of Sainsbury, the members said they are working closely with trusted suppliers to responsibly source seafood products.
He said: Salmon production is extremely important to the economy and the UK consumers, and we work constructively with welfare groups to improve production. ”
A Waitrose spokesperson has acknowledged all Scottish agricultural salmon as a recognized standard, adding: We are investigating the claims in this report with our suppliers. ”
