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Animal Equality Reveals Alleged Cover Up at Salmon Farm Before Inspection

At Dunstaffnage salmon farm near Oban, a recent incident has sparked controversy following a visit from members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) to investigate conditions within the salmon farming industry. Animal rights charity Animal Equality UK claims that the timing of fish disposal at the farm misled committee members regarding the actual state of operations.

On the morning of the MSPs’ visit, Animal Equality UK captured footage showing the disposal of dead salmon. The organization argues that this removal of dead fish, occurring just hours before the inquiry, creates a deceptive impression of the farm’s conditions. Tracking data from Animal Equality indicated that a delousing boat had visited the farm three days earlier, and dead fish were also observed floating in the water days before the committee’s arrival.

Scottish Sea Farms, which operates Dunstaffnage and supplies fish to M&S, contends that removing deceased or dying fish is a standard daily procedure and is not linked to the visit by the MSPs. They further denied that the boat referenced by Animal Equality was involved in delousing activities.

The inquiry, conducted by the Holyrood Rural Affairs and Islands (RAI) Committee, is a follow-up to a previous investigation in 2018 that raised alarms about high mortality rates in salmon farming. The earlier inquiry noted significant challenges posed by sea lice infestations and expressed concern over the industry’s failure to effectively address these issues.

In July of last year, data revealed that a staggering 56.5% of salmon at the Dunstaffnage farm perished during the production cycle. Scottish Sea Farms attributed this to an incident involving micro-jellyfish while asserting that the mortality rate for the current production cycle stands at only 3%.

The RAI Committee is set to receive formal testimony from representatives of the salmon farming industry next week. Their inquiry aims to assess the advancements made since the 2018 investigation and how current challenges related to fish health, environmental impacts, and Climate change are being addressed. A spokesperson for the committee noted that the recently obtained footage raises additional questions about fish mortality rates in salmon farming.