M&S Caught in Cross-Fire Over Seal-Killing on Scottish Salmon Farms

[Protestors including Alison Johnstone MSP handing out leaflets outside M&S in Edinburgh: photo by Colin McPherson - download high res image online here]

On Friday (30 October) in Edinburgh, Marks & Spencer supermarket found itself caught in the cross-fire over the killing of seals by salmon farms. Protestors took to Princes Street to urge shoppers to boycott salmon sourced from salmon farms which kill seals.

[Photo by Colin McPherson - download high res image online here]

"I am pleased to support those campaigning for an end to seal deaths," said Alison Johnstone, Member of the Scottish Parliament, who joined the protest outside M&S. "People buying farmed salmon in Scotland will be appalled to learn that there is no requirement on salmon producers to have nets to deter seals. If those making vast profits from salmon sales aren’t prepared to invest in this preventative measure, they cannot claim that shooting a seal is a last resort. It is a lazy, greedy response that contradicts the image the producers and our supermarkets seek to promote and it has to stop."

[Alison Johnstone MSP with GAAIA's Don Staniford: photo by Colin McPherson - download high res image online here]

"Animal rights protesters are calling for a boycott of Scottish salmon as new figures show that the number of seals killed for salmon farming in the first half of the year has risen by 20 per cent," reported The Herald (30 October). "Campaigners are to launch new protests on Friday as new official figures show that salmon farming has been responsible for the shooting of 49 seals in the first half of this year. That's eight more than the same period last year, according to campaigners. The data has shocked protesters who fear that instead of finding alternative ways to deal with seals, salmon farms are continuing to be content to shoot to kill."

The Herald article concluded:

Read more in The Herald (30 October): "Protests planned as number of seals killed in Scots salmon farms rises by 20 per cent"

Intrafish reported (2 November):

"The price for seal-friendly farmed salmon is the installation of predator nets and that could be £1 million for each salmon farm," said Don Staniford in a press release (30 October). "Given that there are currently 143 active salmon farms in Scotland and 87% of salmon farms (according to a 2011/12 Scottish Government survey) do not have predator nets installed then the cost to the Scottish salmon farming industry could be well over £100 million. Until all salmon farms install predator nets consumers should boycott all Scottish salmon - even RSPCA Assured 'Freedom Food' salmon, Aquaculture Stewardship Council-certified and Soil Association-certified 'organic' salmon which all shamefully endorse the killing of seals. Next time you're in a supermarket or restaurant please ask whether a seal died for your salmon meal."