Breaking News: Norwegian giant Mowi and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council share the shameless 'Greenwasher of the Year' award at this year's Scamons! https://t.co/DTVAlbNivP @MowiScotlandLtd @ASC_aqua @aquacultureuk @sainsburys @Tesco pic.twitter.com/ATY696uEt3
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 3, 2022
At this year's 'Scamons' (the alternative to tomorrow's Aquaculture Awards held in Aviemore) there was particularly fierce competition between salmon farming companies, supermarkets and certification bodies desperate to brand 'Scottish' salmon as "responsible" and "sustainable". In the end, it was just too close to call with Mowi and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council sharing the 'Greenwasher of the Year' award.
Mowi's stream of utter bullshit continued unabated during 2021 and the first quarter of 2022 (despite rising use of antibiotics, mass mortalities, lice infestation and toxic chemicals):
Bullshit Alert: "Sustainability is deeply engrained in the Mowi culture and at the heart of everything we do," claims Mowi's CEO Ivar Vindheim. "Mowi is at the forefront when it comes to sustainable food production" https://t.co/s1726IolTd pic.twitter.com/SqN5v02hzT
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 16, 2022
"We are leading the world.....in sustainable and responsible food production" (Ben Hadfield in September 2021 as quoted in a Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation press release)
Not to be outdone, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council is doing their damndest to surpass their sister organisation (the Marine Conservation Society) in their shameless greenwashing.
Open letter to the ASC: Please cancel all certification of Mowi's toxic Scottish salmon! https://t.co/N9MwDaN0kQ @ASC_aqua @MowiScotlandLtd @fms_scotland @SalmonTroutCons
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 6, 2022
Scottish salmon is farmed irresponsibly not responsibly! @rspcaassured @ASA_UK @sainsburys @Tesco @LidlGB pic.twitter.com/3L76as7mTY
"ASC will play a crucial role in ensuring a growing supply of environmentally sustainably and socially responsible food from the aquaculture industry" (Ally Dingwall in November 2021 as quoted in Fish Farming Expert)
The ASC's stamp of approval comes in the wake of rising use of antibiotics and toxic chemical use.
And mass mortalities piling up faster than you can say: "The ASC salmon standard is not worth the paper it's written on".
A decade ago back in 2012 I exposed how the Aquaculture Stewardship Council - dubbed the Abominable Salmon Council - had been corrupted by commercial forces intent on watering down the standards to accommodate farmed salmon. As I wrote in April 2012:
The last decade has seen Mowi desperately try every trick in the book - from bending the rules, watering down the standards and moving the goalposts - to force Scottish salmon into the ASC. Scottish Salmon Watch reported in March 2021:
Mowi move goalposts on @ASC_aqua certification - first they pledged 100% ASC certification by 2020, then moved it to 2025 & now they expand to @ourGSSI recognised standards including @BAP_Aquaculture @GLOBALGAP & @BordIascMhara https://t.co/sGg4fT1MIR @MowiScotlandLtd #Greenwash pic.twitter.com/t0WEhnHPdO
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 26, 2021
In other words, the industry-dominated ASC is moving the goalposts to allow more salmon farms to meet their ever weakening and widening salmon standard.
Mowi's Q4 2021 Report included:
The key person driving the certification of 'Scottish' salmon as "responsible" via the ASC is Ally Dingwall who used to work for Marine Harvest (renamed Mowi in 2018) and Sainsbury's.
Alistair Dingwell from @ASC_aqua gave a very informative talk today about Navigating the Pathway to Social Licence for Aquaculture at day one of #aquacultureuk today. Don’t forget to stop by stand 199 to visit the International Aquafeed team! pic.twitter.com/EVNSqFx6Wf
— The Aquaculturists (@IAFmagazine) May 3, 2022
Next up in the conference tent:
— Aquaculture UK (@aquacultureuk) May 3, 2022
Navigating the pathway to social licence for aquaculture | Alastair Dingwall - @ASC_aqua | 1:15 PM - 1:45 PM.
See you there! pic.twitter.com/hf6JnsJbMg
In December 2021, Scottish Salmon Watch exposed how the 'Sustainable Seafood Coalition' had greenwashed Scottish salmon.
Greenwashing 'Sustainable' Salmon - how supermarkets brand themselves as "responsible" via ClientEarth! https://t.co/aTzLjczZcp @SSC_seafood @ClientEarth @rspcaassured @ASC_aqua @SoilAssociation @GSA_Seafood @ourGSSI @ScotlandSalmon @SalmonTroutCons @Ecohustler @ASA_UK @CMAgovUK pic.twitter.com/rAWoDpGjRH
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 25, 2021
Read more via:
The Worst Salmon Toilets in Scotland (even worse than Trainspotting)!
The Scamons: Voting Now Open for 'Best Supporting Bullshit' Award!
Awards Alert: Nominations Open for the 'Scamons'!
Live from 'The Scamons' in Norway!
The Scamons & Sockeyes - Aquaculture Academy Awards 2013
The Sockeyes - Oscar Loves Wild Salmon!
Voting is now open for 'Best Supporting Bullshit' at The Scamons (held in Aviemore on May 4) @MowiScotlandLtd @scotseafarms @ScotlandSalmon @ScottishSPCA @ASC_aqua
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 21, 2022
Voting closes on 30 April - more details via https://t.co/fjF3wYBa0o @aquacultureuk @DiversifiedUK @MacAviemore pic.twitter.com/1qy8yLLu1w