2021 Review: The Year Scottish Salmon Died (& Tavish Lied)! https://t.co/A410HBC7nI pic.twitter.com/DDValfLVEN
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 30, 2021
"1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure," said Her Majesty the Queen looking back on a year which saw a fire destroy part of Windsor Castle and the divorces of three of her children. "In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an 'Annus Horribilis'."
When Tavish Scott, the viking chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (which was renamed Salmon Scotland in November), looks back on the inferno of negative news stories reported in 2021 he may echo a similar sentiment.
2021 was only a month in when undercover video footage published by Animal Equality - via an exclusive with The Times - lifted the lid on welfare abuse inside The Scottish Salmon Company.
🔵BREAKING: Undercover footage from Animal Equality shows fish left to suffocate, repeatedly clubbed and having their gills cut while fully conscious at a Scottish salmon slaughterhouse.https://t.co/3qJQajad6D
— Animal Equality UK (@animal_equality) February 13, 2021
Animal Equality reported (13 February 2021):
The Times reported (13 February 2021):
In March, video evidence published by Compassion in World Farming (sourced from secret filming inside salmon farms across Scotland) lifted the lid yet further on the welfare nightmare of salmon farming in Scotland.
Video Nasty - Scottish Salmon Caught by Candid Camera! Shocking footage demands an end to salmon farming in Scotland https://t.co/BsE0neJ9v1 @marinescotland @SSPOsays @rspcaassured @SSPCA_Kirsteen @ScotlandMowi @scotseafarms @salmon_scottish @ScottishEPA @nature_scot @scotgp pic.twitter.com/M38m8vgsgL
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 23, 2021
Download photos published by Compassion in World Farming online here
A report - "Underwater Cages, Parasites & Dead Fish" - published in March by Compassion in World Farming and OneKind was enough to give anyone thinking about buying Scottish salmon nightmares.
A new report - "Underwater Cages, Parasites & Dead Fish" - featuring welfare abuse on salmon farms is a must read! https://t.co/rwypa1sg8y
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 23, 2021
Stop salmon suffering by banning salmon farming in #Scotland NOW! @ciwf @onekindtweet @CIWF_EU @media_ciwf @rspcaassured @SSPCA_Mike @scotgp pic.twitter.com/rDFDpGMYcz
Scottish Salmon Watch also published gruesome photographic evidence of seals killed at salmon farms in Scotland - sourced from photos disclosed via Freedom of Information:
Photo Exclusive: Seals 'Executed' by Scottish Salmon https://t.co/88Kn1lZwpx@SSPOsays @salmon_scottish @scotseafarms @strandings @marinescotland @NOAA @RuralPolicySRUC @SRUC @rspcaassured @SSPCA_Mike @SSPCA_Kirsteen @RSPCAChris @Try_Lochlander @coopuk @marksandspencer @Tesco pic.twitter.com/XDimhpTbXi
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 8, 2021
The Ferret and Sunday National published a devastating expose on how millions of farmed salmon are dumped, burned and destroyed.
Today's @SunScotNational: "The millions of dead salmon dumped, burnt or destroyed" @jamiermann @FerretScot @SSPOsays @JohnAitchison1 @salmon_scottish @markruskell @ScottishEPA @TWMA_LTD @keenanrecycling @BBTankers @ScotlandMowi @SSE @rspcaassured @scotgphttps://t.co/j8rVob2DQd pic.twitter.com/L15jAW2UBA
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 21, 2021
March was still not over when Netflix delivered Scottish salmon a global PR problem with the broadcast of 'Seaspiracy' which featured damning video footage shot inside The Scottish Salmon Company and diseased Scottish salmon at Mowi's RSPCA Assured and ASC-certified salmon farm at Gorsten in Loch Linnhe.
Netflix's 'Seaspiracy' Exposes Disease-Ridden Scottish Salmon – As Sponsored by the RSPCA & Aquaculture Stewardship Council! https://t.co/NiySHYotBu@seaspiracy @rspcaassured @ScotlandMowi @ASC_aqua @vivacampaigns @Ecohustler @SSPOsays @iamalitabrizi @media_ciwf @philip_ciwf pic.twitter.com/32CcvHUUKH
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 31, 2021
The Courier reported (24 March 2021) on "The shocking revelations of Netflix’s new documentary on marine pollution" citing shocking video footage from Corin Smith of disease-ridden salmon at The Scottish Salmon Company in Loch Roag on the Isle of Lewis:
The Sunday Times reported (28 March 2021):
In Seaspiracy, Tabrizi steals onto fish producer Mowi’s Gorsten salmon farm - certified via @rspcaassured & @ASC_aqua - in Loch Linnhe in the dead of night with Don Staniford, a veteran campaigner https://t.co/Ykp54fenBh @seaspiracy @iamalitabrizi @ScotlandMowi @SSPOsays pic.twitter.com/wi4gUimotQ
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 28, 2021
The Sun reported (30 March 2021):
The Guardian reported (2 April 2021):
Read the scientific paper in full online here
In the wake of Netflix's 'Seaspiracy', salmon farmers in Scotland were in full fire-fighting mode with Tavish Scott (chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation) caught with his pants on fire on BBC Scotland's 'The Nine' (7 April 2021).
MILLIONS of farmed salmon are dying from lice infestations, chlamydia, heart disease, anaemia etc.
— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) April 19, 2021
The CEO of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation @SSPOsays, Mr @TavishScott says it's a
"Pack of lies".
Make up you own mind who's the LIAR here. pic.twitter.com/C0T1aId4pn
Tavish Scott @SSPOsays denies millions of Scottish salmon are dying from lice infestation & infectious diseases @seaspiracy @BBCScotNine
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 7, 2021
Yet, data published by @marinescotland shows millions of #Scottish #salmon die due to infectious diseases! https://t.co/L0V3L4ubNu #Liar #Lies pic.twitter.com/feFSb4NTw8
April also saw the publication of Alexandra Morton's devastating 'Not On My Watch'.
“I am part of the #resistance movement against #extinction. The movement spans the globe. We are a force of nature. Like a #river, we well up, slip around, bore through and dive under obstacles. We don’t stop.
— alexandramorton (@alex4salmon) March 29, 2021
This is not the time to give up.”https://t.co/B4s9d8lWIt .
Read a profile of Alexandra Morton - the "salmon saviour" and "resistance fighter" against salmon farms! https://t.co/W7jMx1ez2v@BCBookworld @alex4salmon @galleries_west
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 16, 2021
"I am part of the resistance movement against extinction" @EatingOur #eowte pic.twitter.com/LlTDsplaZm
'Not On My Watch' was hand-delivered to Scotland's largest salmon farmer Mowi in June:
In April, Scottish Salmon Watch won a famous victory against celebrity chef Rick Stein for deceptive marketing of salmon.
BBC News: "Director of Scottish Salmon Watch Don Staniford called on retailers to be more 'honest' over the origins of their salmon products" https://t.co/RungqPbUF4 @sainsburys @Tesco @marksandspencer @waitrose @AldiUK @coopuk @LidlGB @Morrisons @asda @rspcaassured @ASC_aqua
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 15, 2021
Mail Online/Daily Mail reported (15 April 2021):
Scottish Salmon Watch director Mr Staniford, who recently appeared in Netflix hit @seaspiracy, argued the original description was 'misleading', according to the BBC @BBCNews @MailOnline @DailyMailUK @Rick_Stein @RickSteinRest @SevernWye @TSCornwall https://t.co/dO0bznzoLb
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 16, 2021
Scottish Salmon Watch also exposed how welfare abuse on salmon farms was being whitewashed away by the UK Government, SSPCA and RSPCA with a letter sent to the Secretary of State (20 April 2021).
Whitewashing Welfare Abuse of Scottish Salmon!
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 15, 2021
Read the inside story - sourced via FOI - into how @APHAgovuk 'inspect' millions of farmed fish & turn a blind eye to welfare abuse @SSPOsays @scotseafarms @kamesfishfarm @rspcaassured @marksandspencer https://t.co/vgp2qsSSsQ pic.twitter.com/APUPVisONy
Given the serious nature of the allegations, Scottish Salmon Watch hope that @DefraGovUK
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 21, 2021
investigate @APHAgovuk surveillance & inspection of salmon farms in #Scotland @FergusEwingSNP @BenMacpherson @kamesfishfarm @rspcaassured @CGrahameMSP @scotgp https://t.co/vUKNjDsPIR pic.twitter.com/M6H7b9B6BE
Another book - "Toxic" by Richard Flanagan - made waves globally.
"Toxic: The Rotting Underbelly of the Tasmanian Salmon Industry" - published @PenguinBooks on 26 April https://t.co/WlBHM9flOl
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 21, 2021
"Richard Flanagan’s exposé of the salmon farming industry in Tasmania is chilling" #RichardFlanagan
When is the Scottish edition out? @tavishscott pic.twitter.com/uu78TGOKka
ABC News reported (22 April 2021):
Booker prize-winning author Richard Flanagan has taken a swipe at Tasmania's salmon industry, describing it as "one big lie" https://t.co/iXTP9qJZCF
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 22, 2021
The Scottish edition is out later this year! @tavishscott
Award-winning food writer Joanna Blythman certainly won't be eating any farmed salmon - even 'organic'.
Award-winning food writer @JoannaBlythman: "I boycott all caged salmon, so-called “organic” included, because it is just a slightly less intensive version of the same old environmentally ruinous product" https://t.co/INnWqk1Lx6 @heraldscotland @tavishscott @Rick_Stein @SSPOsays
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 24, 2021
The Herald reported (24 April 2021):
Italian TV featured Scottish salmon farming in an unflattering light in a broadcast in May:
Le Iene published a news story to accompany their salmon feature (11 May 2021):
The Italian newspaper Il Giornale reported (12 May 2021):
Another Italian newspaper - Libero - reported (12 May 2021):
Secret Filming Exposes RSPCA ‘Abused’ Scottish Salmon - Welfare Complaint Filed Against M&S Supplier Scottish Sea Farms https://t.co/FcNmyXrwxD @rspcaassured @scotseafarms @marksandspencer @LeroySeafood @APHAgovuk @marinescotland @SSPCA_Mike @SSPCA_Kirsteen @Folketrygdfond pic.twitter.com/D212vYCn9z
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 13, 2021
The secret filming triggered an inspection by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate and a temporary suspension of welfare certification by RSPCA Assured.
A spokesperson for RSPCA Assured said: “We are very concerned by some of this footage and have suspended the farm whilst we urgently investigate” @rspcaassured @scotseafarms @APHAgovuk @marinescotland @LeroySeafood @Folketrygdfond @SSPCA_Mike @ciwf https://t.co/55rqvU9n4R pic.twitter.com/ajRqyWUuh7
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 14, 2021
The Herald On Sunday reported (16 May 2021):
Herald On Sunday: "Scottish M&S supplier blames seals for salmon wounds as RSPCA Assured status is suspended" @Martin1Williams @heraldscotland @rspcaassured @scotseafarms @SSPCA_Kirsteen @SSPCA_Mike @LeroySeafood @marksandspencer @LucyWeather @XantheClay https://t.co/rXwpLUsB8G pic.twitter.com/LMHhUPlKuM
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 16, 2021
Scottish Salmon Watch's welfare complaint against Scottish Sea Farms led to an inspection later in May by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate which reported welfare problems, mortalities and Infectious Salmon Anaemia:
Infectious Salmon Anaemia comes back to haunt Scottish salmon - positive test reported by @marinescotland @rspcaassured @scotseafarms on Isle of Mull. Buy your fresh virus-laden Scottish salmon @marksandspencer - how many more farms are infected? @MowiScotlandLtd @salmon_scottish pic.twitter.com/JUjMS335xa
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) August 30, 2021
Intrafish reported (31 August 2021):
Intrafish's top story is the report of ISA in Scotland at Norwegian-owned 'Scottish' Sea Farms (real name Norskott Havbruk) @scotseafarms @LeroySeafood https://t.co/wJLvpsQjra @SSPOsays @IntraFish pic.twitter.com/TwyCWM52NN
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) August 31, 2021
In May, The Ferret reported that the Scottish Government backed the use of the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in salmon farming in Scotland.
Marine Scotland’s director, Annabel Turpie, has backed a treatment system for farmed fish designed to use a pesticide with “potentially devastating consequences for marine life”.https://t.co/kCHxUc4YBC
— The Ferret (@FerretScot) May 21, 2021
The Guardian followed the story up later in May with a devastating report on the toxic chemical dubbed 'Novichok for insects':
‘Novichok for insects’ may be approved for Scottish fish farms https://t.co/OzouYaXCEk @guardian @karenmcveigh1 @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @FerretScot @DaveGoulson @GraceOSllvn @europeangreens @ZoeZebedee @markruskell @vmdgovuk @marinescotland @EMA_News @PAN_UK @GreenerScotland
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021
Fish Farming Expert reported later in June:
Don Staniford of Scottish Salmon Watch said in a complaint: “Benchmark has patently failed to inform shareholders, investors, the public, the stock exchange and the media that BMK08/Ectosan is in fact the banned neonicotinoid imidacloprid” @WeAreBenchmark https://t.co/QdlU7Q8mlR pic.twitter.com/rwC1K7sIdA
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 10, 2021
The Ferret subsequently reported in July:
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency told a firm wanting to start using a bee-killing chemical at fish farms to mark correspondence “confidential”— so that it wouldn’t have to be released in response to freedom of information requests. #FOIhttps://t.co/hIclBVFKop
— The Ferret (@FerretScot) July 19, 2021
A damning report published by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch in May blamed Mowi for the fatal accident of Clive Hendry at Mowi's Ardintoul salmon farm.
Mowi blamed @maibgovuk for horrific death in Loch Alsh: "investigation concluded that the conduct of the boat transfer had not been properly planned or briefed and was not adequately supervised or controlled" @ScotlandMowi @MowiScotlandLtd https://t.co/3Efr9KkrpP#Reckless #Mowi pic.twitter.com/XBEYV8wOIa
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 26, 2021
The Times reported later in November that Clive Hendry's widow was suing Mowi for negligence:
The Times: "I want justice and an apology. I truly believe that Clive would be here today if Mowi had done what they were meant to" https://t.co/9JCg1KyiX9 @thetimes @MowiScotlandLtd @ScottishHazards @maibgovuk @H_S_E @WHFP1 @Rossnews @Folketrygdfond @ScotlandSalmon
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 23, 2021
“The authorities have turned a blind eye to the continued dumping of diseased farmed salmon in landfill for well over a decade,” said Staniford. “Scotland’s secret salmon graveyard stinks to high heaven & must be shut down now” @thetimes @GreenerScotland https://t.co/PUxDL1BKl1
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2021
The Daily Mail followed up the news report:
The Independent reported (27 May 2021):
The Oban Times reported in June:
🚨 NEW OPEN ACCESS PAPER! 🔊🐬
— Charlotte Findlay (@chazz_findlay) June 9, 2021
Our @JAppliedEcology paper predicted the potential for auditory impairment from acoustic seal deterrents for harbour porpoises within a marine protected area https://t.co/cR5ZYQQ5BD #UnderwaterNoise #Aquaculture #ADDs
Thread ⬇️(1/7) pic.twitter.com/g3zvcc93jJ
The Sunday National and The Ferret reported at the end of June:
The Scottish Government has launched an investigation after receiving complaints from environmental conservationists over the use of “seal scarers” by a company which has fish farms in Argyll and Bute.https://t.co/L6BoQ7qAsN
— The Ferret (@FerretScot) June 27, 2021
In July, The Times published another article on the illegal dumping of diseased salmon at Whiteshore Cockles in North Uist:
When @_KateForbes visited Whiteshore Cockles was the illegal dumping of disease-ridden salmon raised? Did @marinescotland inspect the leaching cess-pit or did @ScotGovNetZero look the other way? https://t.co/wDdz2GMJ0x @cne_siar @APHAgovuk @ScottishEPA @SSPOsays @MairiGougeon https://t.co/8cA2mRSXq1 pic.twitter.com/fPkiBqGuUa
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 1, 2021
The front page of The Press & Journal (2 July 2021) reported:
The Definition of 'Taking the Fish' - as salmon farmers in Shetland tackled illegal dumping of diseased fish via alternatives to landfill, companies in the Western Isles extended the geographical scope to Lewis, Harris & even mainland Scotland @scotgov https://t.co/kZPwlysv8d pic.twitter.com/iUGJbwD6yf
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 3, 2021
The Sunday Mail reported (4 July 2021):
Wanted: Tavish Scott - Lobbying for Seal Killing At Salmon Farms in Scotland! @tavishscott @SSPOsays https://t.co/byC8ot3Xqh
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 4, 2021
£10,000 reward for information leading to a successful prosecution @policescotland @ScotlandMowi @salmon_scottish @scotseafarms @marinescotland pic.twitter.com/meulOEZNWA
Scottish Salmon Watch reported in July that a Freedom of Information (FOI) disclosure by the Scottish Government published online in April 2021 revealed that 'Scottish' salmon is now sourced predominantly from imported ova (eggs) from Iceland and Ireland substituting Norway (due to ongoing risks of the spread of Infectious Salmon Anaemia).
Replacing imports of salmon eggs from Norway (where Infectious Salmon Anaemia is ravaging farms) with imports from Iceland (fingered in the spread of Piscine reovirus to USA) is like leaping out of the frying pan into the fire! https://t.co/ybGKdLWR9B @WeAreBenchmark @scotgov pic.twitter.com/wsmnKodIAp
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 7, 2021
The Mail on Sunday reported (11 July 2021):
Meet the toxic team peddling 'organic' salmon pharming in Scotland - farmed off the Isle of Skye using the lobster-killing chemical Deltamethrin & owned by Dutch, Canadian & Norwegian investors. 'Scottish' & 'organic' salmon is a scam! https://t.co/wHt1aKc7G7 #Toxic @timbrouwer89 pic.twitter.com/mmcx5ereG5
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 11, 2021
In October it was reported that 'Organic' Sea Harvest had been refused planning permission:
WE WON THE BATTLE!
— Katie Tunn (@Katie__Eden) October 7, 2021
After YEARS of fighting, permission to build a cruel & toxic #salmonfarm in our bay has been denied.
This place is a unique ecosystem full of diverse & important wildlife, it was such high stakes.
Finally protecting the environment beats financial gain. pic.twitter.com/j7cr406k1o
BBC Alba reported (7 October 2021):
BBC News: "It’s a real relief for me and our community group, after years of protesting this fish farm" said Katie Tunn. "Most of the people here were against it" https://t.co/F5GVfuR3dY @Katie__Eden @BBCScotlandNews @bbcalba @Ianblackford_MP @_KateForbes @HighlandCouncil
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 8, 2021
The Sunday Times reported (17 October 2021):
Prince Charles has a history of being badly advised and poorly equipped when it comes to building business liaisons.
— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) October 17, 2021
His meeting with the grovelling “Organic” Sea Harvest is yet another poor taste decision.@_KateForbes @SSPOsays @ClarenceHouse https://t.co/DnC6yvcbX6 pic.twitter.com/TWl4mAKjQ6
Scottish Salmon Watch revealed in July that mortalities on salmon farms during 2020 exceeded a staggering 27,000 tonnes (an estimated 20 million dead salmon). That's more than double the 10,000 tonnes of morts reported in 2013; almost four times more than the 7,000 tonnes reported in 2010 and the worst on record (2019 and 2017 were both just over 25,000 tonnes)!
New Data: It's official - Scottish salmon is the worst ever! https://t.co/8w3aNU5XSp @ScottishEPA
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 12, 2021
27,000 tonnes of mortalities - almost four times more than the 7,000 tonnes officially reported in 2010!
Please boycott @rspcaassured @ASC_aqua @SoilAssociation & @SaumonLabel pic.twitter.com/i0BFh6eCRT
Secret filming by Scottish Salmon Watch inside Mowi's salmon farms around the Isle of Shuna on 16 & 17 July 2021 revealed welfare abuse, lice infestation and mortalities.
Scottish Salmon Watch just filed an official welfare complaint against Mowi's RSPCA Assured Scottish salmon @rspcaassured @MowiScotlandLtd @APHAgovuk @marinescotland https://t.co/72WXr2bxXx
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 19, 2021
Please stop supporting welfare abuse on Scottish salmon farms @sainsburys @LidlGB @AldiUK pic.twitter.com/RY2aKUvY9V
The Mail On Sunday reported (25 July 2021):
The mother of all salmon splashes in today's Mail on Sunday - beauty and the beast! https://t.co/oKrvmkUNAx @EmiliaClarkeTM @emiliaclarke @GameOfThrones @MowiScotlandLtd @rspcaassured pic.twitter.com/xyubBSQAFC
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 25, 2021
The Times reported (26 July 2021):
Don Staniford, the director of Scottish Salmon Watch, which campaigns against fish farms, took the video. He said: “In three years of secret filming at more than 25 salmon farms I have never seen such unnecessary suffering” https://t.co/dWHR2Vyr3n @thetimesscot @rspcaassured
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 26, 2021
Seaspiracy reported in August via Instagram and Facebook:
Seaspiracy's video shocker on @rspcaassured Scottish salmon @MowiScotlandLtd is approaching 1 million views - and has over 36,000 likes! @seaspiracy https://t.co/I80mzoym6j
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) August 4, 2021
Please boycott Scottish salmon! #Boycott #Scottish #Salmon pic.twitter.com/iagrnIMjFM
In August, Inside Scottish Salmon Feedlots revealed the shocking death rates on salmon farms across Scotland:
Inside Scottish Salmon Feedlots reveals the shocking death rates on Scotland's salmon farms! "There are huge questions for @rspcaassured" says Corin Smith
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) August 3, 2021
Grieg Seafood tops the list with 78% mortality - that's four out of every five salmon dying!https://t.co/oO6wWCqTQB pic.twitter.com/tGvGEZNiaA
The Herald reported (8 August 2021):
Private Eye reported in August 2021:
Private Eye reports on the "Toxic Relationship" between @ScottishEPA & Norway's @WeAreBenchmark who want to deploy the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid on salmon farms @marinescotland @CampaignFOIScot @FOIScotland @SSPOsays @PAN_UK @PrivateEyeNewshttps://t.co/gtNmuMamMq #Toxic pic.twitter.com/cXPQitBrcG
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) August 25, 2021
The Mail On Sunday reported (25 August 2021):
The Sunday Times reported (29 August 2021):
"Scottish salmon is a Titanic-sized environmental and health disaster" https://t.co/LluuX8sZgm
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) August 29, 2021
Watch the tragic story of Scottish salmon @EatingOur #eating2extinction #eowte
'Eating Our Way to Extinction' premiered in cinemas September and is available to watch online via Amazon, iTunes, You Tube and AppleTV:
Undercover footage showing the extent of welfare abuse, mortalities, chemical use.
— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) October 22, 2021
“This is what the industry doesn’t want us to see”@MairiGougeon @MairiMcAllan @MathesonMichael #COP26 pic.twitter.com/o9OAKjjuxm
Undercover footage showing open air spraying of toxic chemicals directly onto the water surface at a salmon farm: pic.twitter.com/Fu7IjySgOB
— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) October 22, 2021
RT reported (20 September 2021):
"The undersea filming of the scabby, misshapen salmon, like piscine extras in ‘The Walking Dead’, was enough to put anyone off eating farmed fish again" https://t.co/0GMN0sOgWm @RT_com @EatingOur https://t.co/dMmm9IyVy9 @SealifeA https://t.co/wuf45aa8BM pic.twitter.com/grZoeegrNj
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 21, 2021
The Morning Star reported (16 September 2021):
The Times reported (17 September 2021):
"The buzz kill of the week is this densely researched documentary that’s narrated by Kate Winslet and will probably make it impossible to ever again eat sushi or steak in good conscience (farmed salmon is off my menu!)" https://t.co/AJpbDpsCdb @thetimes @EatingOur #eowte
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 17, 2021
The Times reported (6 September 2021):
The Times reporting on the stench of Scottish salmon! https://t.co/fO9Y00CVqV @thetimesscot
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 7, 2021
"That the Scottish Government appears to be finally tightening the net is to be welcomed" @scotgov @ScotGovNetZero @ScottishEPA @cne_siar @MairiGougeon @MairiMcAllan @WHFP1 @SSPOsays pic.twitter.com/MjxZb67ZxH
Secret filming by Scottish Salmon Watch exposed welfare abuse and mass mortalities inside the Shuna Castle fish farm operated by Kames Fish Farming in the Sound of Jura on 2 September 2021:
Video Exclusive: secret filming inside @rspcaassured Kames Fish Farming in the Sound of Jura reveals lice-infested farmed trout https://t.co/0ZqAG6B8Iz @kamesfishfarm @obantimes @british_trout @DFSeafoods @FarmInvicta @coopuk @sainsburys @Tesco @asda @LidlGB @AldiUK pic.twitter.com/AvWdU7sbU1
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 12, 2021
Secret filming by Scottish Salmon Watch inside The Scottish Salmon Company's West Strome salmon farm on 6 September 2021 exposed shocking welfare abuse:
Breaking News: "Horror Videos Reveal Welfare Abuse Inside Scottish Salmon & Trout Cages" https://t.co/T4hSvF6HHZ @salmon_scottish @kamesfishfarm @SSPOsays @rspcaassured @Try_Lochlander @SaumonLabel#Boycott #Scottish #Salmon #Trout pic.twitter.com/T3yUbxbrb3
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 12, 2021
Further video footage shot in September 2021 revealed mass mortalities at The Scottish Salmon Company in Loch Carron:
Video footage of the mort disposal operation @salmon_scottish "The dead boat – absolutely packed to the gunnels with death: at least thirty tonnes of dead salmon on there today”.
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 13, 2021
Like a serial killer burying the dead bodies before the police arrive! https://t.co/jhrwnsC7Sk
"This is the scum - all the salmon fat polluting our waters," says Jamie Moyes in a video from West Strome salmon farm @salmon_scottish "Absolutely disgusting, stinking. Oh my God, it is thick. It is a toxic soup - it makes you sick the smell" @SSPOsays https://t.co/6VlzcwKJh5 pic.twitter.com/RffPTrp9eg
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 24, 2021
Video of French TV's 'The Truth About Salmon' featuring Mowi & The Scottish Salmon Company https://t.co/PIwqhztqhu @France5tv @hugoclement @MowiScotlandLtd @salmon_scottish @ScotlandSalmon @Folketrygdfond @Try_Lochlander @waitrose @sainsburys @Tesco @LidlGB @AldiUK @SaumonLabel pic.twitter.com/u16uaGZ97K
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 21, 2021
2 of 2 vids taster of what’s to come. pic.twitter.com/BFuM0ID1fp
— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) November 19, 2021
In October a new book exposing the underbelly of salmon farming in Norway was published:
New Book Exposes Corruption in Norwegian Salmon Farming - hopefully a Scottish edition is coming soon! @SpartacusForlag @SimenSaetre https://t.co/o4BsEr56AY #laks #dennyefisken @seafoodnorway @NFdep @fiskeridir @LeroySeafood @scotseafarms @MowiScotlandLtd @GriegShetland pic.twitter.com/aDtWLFB2oA
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 1, 2021
Here's how Norwegian farmed salmon is pictured in a cartoon showcasing a devastating new book criticising salmon farming - please boycott Frankenfish! https://t.co/qRxnNV8H4q pic.twitter.com/QpULKdW6St
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 24, 2021
STV News reported (11 October 2021):
STV News: "Given the gruesome nature of welfare abuse, mass mortalities & lice infestations it is not surprising that this Norwegian-owned behemoth wants to stop the public from finding out the ugly truth about Scottish salmon" https://t.co/HlRWu4RmVO @STVNews @giannilmarini pic.twitter.com/o8kveENGsj
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 11, 2021
The Veterinary Record reported (9/16 October 2021):
"The risk that Imidacloprid presents to ecosystems when used in the marine environment is too great, and the precautionary principle must be applied" @Vet_Record @DaveGoulson @WeAreBenchmark @ScottishEPA @marinescotland @MairiGougeon @SSPOsays @MowiScotlandLtd @scotgp @FerdOwner pic.twitter.com/6Xy6GbYNyE
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 13, 2021
The Herald reported (16 October 2021):
Salmon & Trout Conservation reported (22 October 2021):
"The available evidence indicates that introgression of genetic material from Norwegian farm salmon strains has altered the genetic composition of some populations within rivers near marine aquaculture production" @scotgov https://t.co/ao5rWnMHW3 @SSPOsays @MowiScotlandLtd
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 22, 2021
Inside Scottish Salmon Feedlots posted on Facebook (15 October 2021):
STV News reported (20 October 2021):
Shock horror - 'Scottish' salmon is the second most popular right now on STV News! @STVNews @SSPOsays @salmon_scottish @Folketrygdfond @Try_Lochlander @coopuk @Tesco @asda @waitrose @AldiUK @LidlGB @sainsburys @marksandspencer @giannilmarini @tavishscott https://t.co/hf3a09rNtO
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 20, 2021
The Telegraph reported (2 November 2021):
For COP26 to serve up farmed salmon, the product of a fundamentally unsustainable industry, shows bad judgement, but sourcing it from a company with poor environmental credentials is inexcusable.
— Salmon & Trout Conservation (@SalmonTroutCons) November 1, 2021
More here 👉 https://t.co/e5ZkWgtoXs
📷Corin Smith pic.twitter.com/O7ctC1Pbfz
The Scotsman reported (4 November 2021):
"Salmon farming is destroying Scotland’s coastline, loch by loch, and with it the jobs of countless local people who depend for their livelihood on clean and living seas" says Roc Sandford of @oceanrebellion in today's Scotsman @TheScotsman #COP26 https://t.co/n1nBV27Cue pic.twitter.com/l1rNNXk3qp
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 4, 2021
Video report from last night's @oceanrebellion protest against fishing and salmon farming outside the First Minister's residence at Bute House @NicolaSturgeon https://t.co/mwfJTr8Bio #COP26 @ScotlandSalmon @SalmonScotland @ScotGovNetZero pic.twitter.com/KX0KJUWHwY
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 4, 2021
The Sun reported (3 November 2021):
In November, The Scottish Salmon Company lost an appeal over the rejection of a salmon farm off the Isle of Arran.
RESULT!@salmon_scottish lose their appeal to install a new 12 cage feedlot at Arran.
— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) November 9, 2021
Victory for locally & nationally valued areas of the Scottish environment.https://t.co/zeh7lhyuMP…@MairiGougeon @MairiMcAllan @ScotlandSalmon @mathesonmichael @COP26 https://t.co/vchc2FXUfB pic.twitter.com/4ol2qUUcRS
📣Salmon planning appeal DISMISSED!📣
— Arran Coast (@ArranCoast) November 11, 2021
The appeals process requested by the Scottish Salmon Company (SSC), against the unanimous rejection for a mega-farm at Millstone Point, has concluded and the reporter has UPHELD the Planning Committees decision!https://t.co/QgeSXWe0X2 pic.twitter.com/SqGcfR3vBg
The Herald reported (14 November 2021):
Unacceptable 'Scottish' Salmon @heraldscotland @Martin1Williams https://t.co/9vCRvBwRD2 @scotgov @ArranCoast @salmon_scottish @ScotlandSalmon @howardlwood @RussCheshire @chandlerfish @arranbanner @ScotGovNetZero @AyrshireRT
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 14, 2021
Scottish Salmon Watch published a compilation of video reports shot inside salmon and trout farms in Scotland:
Compilation of video evidence of welfare abuse at salmon & trout farms in Scotland - please share with any friends & family who are thinking of buying Scottish salmon this Xmas! #SalmonPledgehttps://t.co/KpDhQ6r9rf @salmon_scottish @MowiScotlandLtd @scotseafarms @kamesfishfarm pic.twitter.com/jChjco3xB7
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 25, 2021
The Ferret reported (27 November 2021):
"Smith has shown The Ferret photographs of a GPS tracker allegedly found on the underside of his car in June 2021. Police Scotland confirmed it had received a report from Smith about the tracking device and the TSSC ‘intelligence report’ and that “enquiries remain ongoing” pic.twitter.com/B6N6QSzam8
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 27, 2021
The Herald reported (27 November 2021):
The front page of today's Herald newspaper reports on how "Salmon chief spied on salmon critic" with the exclusive story on how Corin Smith of Inside Scottish Salmon Feedlots was spied on by @salmon_scottish @ScotlandSalmon https://t.co/7h7cKbnm62 @PaulDobson95 @heraldscotland pic.twitter.com/fDSydtSZ2w
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 27, 2021
The West Highland Free Press reported (3 December 2021):
"Everyone in the west coast is terrified to say anything about the salmon farming companies, and this is the reason, they throw their weight around when they don’t get their own way" said Corin Smith @WHFP1 "They think they can get away with anything" https://t.co/m9vVUeFws7
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 4, 2021
The Sunday Times & Ferret reported (5 December 2021):
“It is sickening to see that for years many farms run by Scottish Sea Farms had not even reported when or how often they were dumping this pollution” said @JohnAitchison1 @TheSoundOfJura https://t.co/y7OocLV8kG @rspcaassured @scotseafarms @SSPCA_Kirsteen @SSPCA_Mike @ciwf
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 5, 2021
The Times reported (6 December 2021):
Today's Times: "Salmon Scotland, an industry body, said all salmon farmed in Scotland were stunned before slaughter and its members were “constantly looking to refine and improve the process” https://t.co/rDNScbyUi7
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 6, 2021
Not before time!! @salmon_scottish @ScotlandSalmon @philip_ciwf pic.twitter.com/rFMbvXJSVm
The Grocer reported (7 December 2021):
The Ferret reported (8 December 2021):
Scientists and academics have called for CCTV to be installed in fish slaughterhouses following the emergence of footage showing alleged animal welfare breaches at a Scots-based company supplying Waitrose with salmon. https://t.co/XHRR40w7vK
— The Ferret (@FerretScot) December 8, 2021
A new assessment of salmon farming operations around the world (published on 6 December 2021 by Seafood Watch) assessed 19 regions as "Red" (i.e. Avoid).
"Avoid" Scottish salmon warns a new report @SeafoodWatch - salmon farmed in #Scotland rated 'red' due to the use of toxic chemicals, infectious diseases & escapes! @ScotlandSalmon @MowiScotlandLtd @scotseafarms @salmon_scottish @GriegShetland @CookeScotland @LochDuartSalmon pic.twitter.com/YztNAcguoC
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 7, 2021
Here's the worst salmon farming regions in the world headed by the Western Isles in Scotland:
It's official - Scottish salmon is the worst in the world! According to a new assessment @SeafoodWatch salmon farmed in the Western Isles is ranked THE worst followed by Southwest & Northwest #Scotland @ScotlandSalmon @MowiScotlandLtd @scotseafarms @GriegShetland @salmon_scottish pic.twitter.com/p1c2Ck8O7t
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 7, 2021
Scottish Salmon Watch reported on the increasing use of antibiotics on salmon farms in Scotland (sourced from a FOI request from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and new data published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate). Between 2015 and 2019 the use of Aquatet (Oxytetracycline) and Florocol (Florfenicol) increased 14-fold from 144kg to 2084kg (that's 2.1 tonnes)!
Antibiotic use doubles on Scottish salmon farms in a year! 5.6 tonnes of Oxytetracycline & Florfenicol used in 2020 according to @vmdgovuk report published in November 2021 @ScotlandSalmon
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 9, 2021
Just say no to drugs, say no to Scottish pharmed salmon! @MowiScotlandLtd @GriegShetland pic.twitter.com/X4vB8A35GR
Norwegian giant Mowi accounted for 57% of the use of antibiotics (both Oxytetracycline and Florfenicol) between 2015 and 2019 with Grieg Seafood (who is being bought by Scottish Sea Farms) accounting for 34% and Cooke Aquaculture 8%. Both The Scottish Salmon Company and Scottish Sea Farms (who were recently rapped over the non-reporting of toxic chemicals) reported zero use of antibiotics on marine salmon farms between 2015 and 2019.
The Fish Site reported (9 December 2021):
Data published by Salmon Scotland (formerly known as the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation) in December revealed mass mortalities across Scotland. Here's the salmon farms with the worst cummulative mortality rate for October 2021:
Named & Shamed @ScotlandSalmon - the salmon farms with the worst mortality. Headed by @scotseafarms with 41.3% mortality in Loch Kishorn followed by 32.8% mortality in Loch Spelve (where ISA was reported in May) & @salmon_scottish & @LochDuartSalmon sites https://t.co/rKHGuzMb37 pic.twitter.com/Atboh6H6ds
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 10, 2021
Here's the salmon farms with the worst monthly mortality rate for October 2021:
Salmon Scotland reveals a staggering monthly mortality rate of 66% (that's two out of every three salmon dying) @salmon_scottish in Druimyeon Bay on the Isle of Gigha in October 2021 with 49.4% dying in one month at Vacasay in Loch Roag! @ScotlandSalmon https://t.co/rKHGuzMb37 pic.twitter.com/NwICGovMby
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 10, 2021
Here's the worst performing companies and sites - as judged by cummulative mortality rates reported during 2021:
In December, Scottish Salmon Watch trawled through all the monthly reports during 2021 and of the 104 salmon farms harvested up to October the average cummulative mortality is 15.7% with The Scottish Salmon Company (21.2%) and Loch Duart (18.9%) the worst companies thus far during 2021:
A big slap on the back to all salmon farmers in Scotland for reducing the mortality rate from 19.7% in 2020 to 15.7% in 2021 (data up to October @ScotlandSalmon) @salmon_scottish @scotseafarms @MowiScotlandLtd @GriegShetland @LochDuartSalmon @CookeScotland https://t.co/YP7xPmmrFt pic.twitter.com/WxqVmT2WEG
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 13, 2021
The Daily Mirror reported (15 December 2021):
Why eating farmed salmon can increase your cancer risk @DailyMirror https://t.co/vIgGGHrVty @sainsburys @Tesco @AldiUK @LidlGB @waitrose @Morrisons @marksandspencer @coopuk @asda @ScotlandSalmon @seafoodnorway @CR_UK #Cancer #Scottish #Salmon
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 15, 2021
The Science Times reported (13 December 2021):
Farm-Raised Salmon Contaminated with Carcinogenic Elements, Doubling the Risk of Cancer @ScienceTimes1 "Risk analysis showed that eating farm-raised salmon regularly doubles the risk of cancer" @seafoodnorway @ScotlandSalmon @InfoMattilsynet @VKMmatogmiljo https://t.co/OD407hPlv5
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 13, 2021
Channel 4 News reported (21 December 2021):
2021 closed with Leonardo DiCaprio giving consumers the sage advice to avoid buying farmed salmon in the Netflix smash hit 'Don't Look Up'.
#don’t look up @LeoDiCaprio thank you for using your shopping scene to highlight how bad farmed salmon is. As in real life, scientists are discredited for telling the truth and the people are fooled - so look up @TheGAAIA @alex4salmon #corinsmith pic.twitter.com/RAYkYGcbal
— Kathleen (@lovingourlochs) December 26, 2021
Don't buy farmed salmon! @LeoDiCaprio pic.twitter.com/srHxxbAxpq
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 29, 2021