A storm is brewing over Skye, and it’s not just the weather. Mowi Scotland, one of the UK’s largest salmon producers, is under intense scrutiny after disturbing footage emerged of workers allegedly mistreating fish at its Loch Harport farm.
The fallout has been swift. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) suspended the site’s certification, triggering concern across the industry and raising serious questions about animal welfare in aquaculture.
Video Sparks Outrage, Certification Pulled
The trouble started when the Green Britain Foundation released hidden camera footage allegedly showing workers repeatedly striking live fish. The scenes, filmed at the Loch Harport farm on the Isle of Skye, quickly spread online and caught the attention of the RSPCA.
Within days, the RSPCA suspended the farm’s participation in its “Assured” animal welfare scheme.
That’s no small matter.
RSPCA Assured certification isn’t just a badge. It’s a major gatekeeper for retail access in the UK. Supermarkets like Sainsbury’s only stock RSPCA-approved salmon. So, suspension from the scheme means Loch Harport’s salmon could be off shelves — at least for now.
Sainsbury’s Cuts Ties (For Now)
Sainsbury’s didn’t waste time reacting. They confirmed that all of their salmon is 100% RSPCA Assured and said they’d suspended supply from the Loch Harport site while investigations continue.
Other retailers haven’t made public statements yet, but insiders say some are quietly reviewing their own supply chains.
One sentence: The reputational damage is already being felt.
This case has tapped into a broader unease about how salmon is farmed in the UK — and how much the public is really willing to tolerate in the name of cheap fish.
Mowi Defends Itself But Faces Skepticism
Mowi responded quickly, saying the footage captured “a very specific moment,” where staff were euthanizing 12 weak fish from a pen of more than 40,000.
The company insists the fish were dispatched using “percussive stunning,” a method considered humane under UK guidelines. But the video shows fish being struck multiple times — and critics argue that it doesn’t look humane at all.
Mowi’s statement painted the Green Britain Foundation as a group with an anti-farming agenda, accusing them of encouraging vegan activists to secretly film operations.
Here’s what Mowi claims in its defense:
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The farm’s other 54 sites remain RSPCA certified
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The fish were being euthanized as per standard practice
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Staff acted on a windy day, making the procedure more difficult
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Workers are now receiving refresher training on welfare protocols
But for many watching the footage, those details don’t explain away the visuals.
Recurring Pattern or Isolated Incident?
This isn’t Mowi’s first rodeo with controversy.
Back in 2021, Scottish Salmon Watch published similar footage alleging fish abuse. The RSPCA investigated that case too — and found no evidence of wrongdoing. Marine Scotland’s Fish Health Inspectorate agreed, eventually closing the file.
Still, the deja vu is hard to ignore.
Two allegations in four years? Even if both are isolated, it chips away at public confidence.
Table: Mowi Scotland Controversy Timeline
| Year | Allegation | Response | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Scottish Salmon Watch footage of fish abuse | Mowi denies, one retailer suspends supplier | RSPCA & FHI found no abuse |
| 2021 | Mowi sues activist Don Staniford | Harassment allegations over undercover videos | Case settled |
| 2024 | Green Britain Foundation footage from Loch Harport | Suspension by RSPCA Assured | Investigation ongoing |
It’s hard to say where this goes next. But for an industry built on trust, even the hint of abuse can be devastating.
A Blow to Scotland’s Salmon Image
Scotland’s salmon industry is one of its biggest food exports, bringing in more than £600 million a year. It’s heavily marketed as clean, sustainable, and high-welfare.
Stories like this cut straight through that branding.
You walk into a supermarket expecting pristine, well-looked-after fish from the Scottish coast. What you get instead is a viral video of salmon being struck with blunt instruments.
Even if the fish were “in poor condition” as Mowi says, the optics are terrible.
And in today’s image-conscious market, optics matter just as much as facts.
One sentence again: The emotional impact of that footage can’t be undone by policy memos.
The Bigger Fight Between Activists and Big Fish Farming
Underneath all this lies a broader battle.
On one side, you’ve got big aquaculture players like Mowi, who argue they’re feeding the nation and doing so responsibly. On the other, a network of activists, whistleblowers, and vegan campaigners who say fish farming is inherently cruel and environmentally damaging.
The Green Britain Foundation has made no secret of its position. It funds activists, encourages filming at farms, and calls for the end of fish farming altogether.
Mowi, in turn, says its staff feel “persecuted by activists” and that it’s offering them emotional and training support in response.
It’s a PR war as much as anything else — and this latest scandal is just fuel on the fire.
Retailers Watching Closely, Public Watching Closer
For now, it’s just one site. Mowi’s 54 other farms are still certified and operating. But no company wants headlines like these, and supermarket buyers are getting nervous.
Consumers are watching too. Especially younger shoppers, who care more about welfare and transparency than ever before.
Will the RSPCA reinstate the Loch Harport farm? Possibly. But even if they do, the stain won’t easily wash off.
