Norwegian/Faroese-owned giant Bakkafrost - the world's third largest salmon farming company - is desperately trying to shut down covert surveillance at salmon farms in Scotland following a spate of negative news articles sourced by video footage. Bakkafrost's lawyers (Shepherd & Wedderburn in Edinburgh) followed up on their legal threat last month with an 'Initial Writ' filed on 8 December:
Bakkafrost's 'Initial Writ' (8 December 2023) cites various 'incursions':
Watch STV News reporting on the 'incursion' into Bakkafrost's Loch Shieldaig salmon farm in June 2019:
Bakkafrost's 'Initial Writ' (8 December 2023) cites other 'incursions' including at West Strome salmon farm in September 2021:
Watch French TV reporting on their visit to Bakkafrost's West Strome salmon farm:
Bakkafrost's 'Initial Writ' (8 December 2023) cites other 'incursions' including visits to their Portree salmon farm in June 2023:
Bakkafrost's 'Initial Writ' (8 December 2023) cited an 'incursion' in August 2023 at their salmon farm at Geasgill off the Isle of Mull with The Herald journalist Vicky Allan name-checked:
The issue of activists and journalists being shut down by the $almafia was red-flagged at last month's UK Anti-SLAPP conference in London:
Watch video footage featuring The Herald's Vicky Allan reporting on her visit to Bakkafrost's Geasgill salmon farm:
'It's 5:30 in the morning on the Isle of Ulva...'@vicky_allan follows activists as she investigates Scotland's unfolding salmon mortality problem pic.twitter.com/kkxlVEUG8h
— The Herald (@heraldscotland) August 29, 2023
Bakkafrost's 'Initial Writ' (8 December 2023) cited the use of aerial drones:
Watch drone footage shot at Bakkafrost's Geasgill and Portree salmon farms (both greenwashed as 'welfare friendly' via RSPCA Assured):
The Sunday Mail reported in September 2023:
Shock drone footage show thousands of dead fish being hauled out the water at 'zombie' scandal salmon farm @DawnThomo @Daily_Record @Folketrygdfond @ScotlandSalmon @APHAgovuk @HighlandCouncil @rspcaassured @RSPCA_official @TavishScott @ChrisGPackham https://t.co/OG8a8I6W1H
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 24, 2023
Bakkafrost's 'Initial Writ' (8 December 2023) is seeking an interdict to stop surveillance:
Download Bakkafrost's 13-page 'Initial Writ' filed on 8 December 2023 in full as a PDF online here
Being harassed by lawyers working for the $almafia feels like being run down by a horde of zombies going in for the kill! @MowiScotlandLtd @scotseafarms @Folketrygdfond @shepwedd @AbdnConsidine pic.twitter.com/hv7SoKM25t
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 15, 2023
Bakkafrost's lawyers also represent Norskott Havbruk (Scottish Sea Farms) who threatened legal action in October 2023 with a temporary interdict/undertaking won in November 2023.
"Scottish salmon farms using SLAPP actions to ban activist" reports @heraldscotland "David vs three Goliaths’. Why does Scottish salmon farming want this man banned?" @IndexCensorship @ScotlandSalmon @Folketrygdfond @NFdep @TavishScott
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 3, 2023
Read in full via https://t.co/zvaN7JGFhQ pic.twitter.com/KyOgHZSF9i
Shepherd & Wedderburn - acting for Scottish Sea Farms back in 2018 - attempted (unsuccessfully as it turned out) to stop the publication of damning photographs of disease-ridden salmon along with Bakkafrost's previous lawyers (when Bakkafrost was known as The Scottish Salmon Company):
The next day, covert surveillance commenced at Bakkafrost's Quarry Point salmon farm in Loch Fyne:
In August 2023, Norwegian giant Mowi won in Oban Sheriff Court with an appeal was filed in October 2023.
“Norway’s $almafia has ridden roughshod over Scotland’s environmental, welfare and safety laws for far too long,” said Don Staniford, Director of $camon $cotland. “In the absence of government enforcement and intervention, covert surveillance and citizen science is vital to ground-truth the greenwash of RSPCA Assured, the Soil Association and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council. Fighting back against SLAPPs is the cornerstone of democracy and public accountability. Norwegian-owned companies like Bakkafrost (whose largest shareholder is the Norwegian Government), Norskott Havbruk (Scottish Sea Farms) and Mowi cannot be allowed to privatise the public commons and threaten free speech. Unlike salmon pharmers, the camera never lies.”
“The Norwegian $almafia cannot be allowed to fence off whole swathes of the Scottish coast from public scrutiny,” continued Staniford who last month completed a 1,000 mile ‘End Salmon Farming’ digivan tour of the UK. “If sheep farmers in Scotland erected 15 metre fences and ‘keep out’ signs, ramblers and tourists would be outraged. Mowi’s chilling legal action – leapt on by Norskott Havbruk (Scottish Sea Farms) and Bakkafrost – is a slap in the face of Scots law and cannot be allowed to stand. Establishing no-go zones around salmon farms – including land bases – is a dangerous precedent that erodes public accountability and transparency. To dismiss other film-makers conducting covert surveillance as my ‘servants’ is an affront to free-will, independent action and journalistic integrity. The $almafia’s policy of silencing criticism (omerta) is doomed to failure and is backfiring spectacularly all over the world as consumers discover the toxic truth about salmon pharming.”
Being harassed by lawyers working for the $almafia feels like being run down by a horde of zombies going in for the kill! @MowiScotlandLtd @scotseafarms @Folketrygdfond @shepwedd @AbdnConsidine pic.twitter.com/hv7SoKM25t
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 15, 2023
Read more via:
Welfare & Biosecurity Complaints Filed Vs RSPCA Assured & ASC-certified Bakkafrost in Loch Carron!
Double Salmon Splash - Scotland On Sunday & The Herald On Sunday!
GEO Podcast: "When Staniford is on the move, salmon farmers' alarm bells are ringing"
The Herald's Vicky Allan: "David vs three Goliaths"
Norway's E24 reporting on 'Zombie' Bakkafrost's SLAPP!
Scottish Anti-SLAPP Summit in Glasgow in February 2024 - spotlight on the $almafia!
Most Read: "Anti-salmon farm activist suffers new legal blow"
"Bakkafrost goes after anti-salmon farming activist in new legal case" (Intrafish)
'Zombie' Bakkafrost SLAPPs Back vs Horror Videos!
Fighting Back Vs the $almafia's $LAPPs (in the spirit of David slaying Goliath)!
Anti-SLAPP conference in London - fighting back vs the $almafia!
‘End Salmon Farming’ Tour Kicks Off Despite Legal Threats by Norwegian $almafia!
Mail On Sunday: "Salmon activist who's been banned from going within 50ft of dozens of fish farms"
The Times: "Kayak vigilante goes undercover to expose salmon farming ‘horror’"
EXPOSED: Welfare Abuse at RSPCA Assured Wester Ross Salmon Farm
Videos & Photos: Welfare Abuse at Wester Ross Fisheries (Mowi) in Loch Broom
Private Eye on Mowi's SLAPP in the face of public access/interest!
Oban Times: "Fish farming giant denies it wants to gag activist"
"Mowi Scotland denies it wants to ‘gag’ activist" (Fish Farmer)
SLAPPed by Norwegian Giant Mowi!
"Mowi court battle with notorious salmon farming opponent gets underway in Scotland" (Intrafish)
The Oban Times: "Mowi takes anti-salmon farming campaigner to court"
Pyrrhic Victory or Legal Loss - Mowi's 'asymmetric war' is doomed to failure!
Censored: Trade Press Ignore 'Droit de Response' (Right of Reply) - until politely asked to do so!
"The People Are Disgusted With Mowi's Legal Action Against Don Staniford - Stop Buying Mowi Salmon!"
Mowi Actively Courts Trade Press Backlash Vs 'Irrational' & 'Fanatical' Activist!
STV News: "Salmon farm firm takes legal action against animal welfare campaigner"
Press statement on lawsuit vs Mowi
Mowi press release: "Court order sought to protect health and safety"
Like a serial killer watching his victims die in pain - shocking video footage of Bakkafrost's @rspcaassured & @ASC_aqua salmon farm in Loch Carron. Please boycott the welfare nightmare of Scottish salmon this Xmas! @RSPCA_official @ScottishSPCA @ScotlandSalmon @APHAgovuk pic.twitter.com/yg4vOhtJ0E
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 17, 2023