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# Salmon farms broke the law by letting fish suffer, say government regulators
- URL: https://www.theferret.scot/salmon-farms-broke-law-fish-suffer/
- Published: 2026-08-18T06:00:43.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-18T06:00:42.000Z
- Description: Two salmon farming companies have been accused of allowing fish to die in pain at three farms in Scotland, after the release of covert video footage.
- Author: Rob Edwards
- Tags: Investigations

**Government watchdogs have accused three Highland salmon farms of breaching animal welfare law by causing “unnecessary suffering” and allowing fish to suffocate to death, The Ferret can reveal.**

Warning letters released after appeals under freedom of information law reveal that the UK government’s [Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency?ref=theferret.scot) reprimanded the Faroese company, [Bakkafrost](https://www.bakkafrostscotland.com/?ref=theferret.scot), for animal cruelty at two [salmon](https://www.theferret.scot/tag/salmon/) farms in 2025 and 2023\. 

[Highland Council](https://www.highland.gov.uk/?ref=theferret.scot) also censured the Norwegian multinational, [Mowi](https://mowi.com/uk/?ref=theferret.scot), for using an “inadequate technique” for killing salmon at a certified organic farm in 2025\. The investigations by APHA and the council were prompted by secretly filmed videos of the farms posted online by campaign groups. 

Campaigners welcomed the release of the warning letters, but condemned them as an inadequate response to the “welfare nightmare” of salmon farming. “These shameful offences would never have come to light without the use of covert cameras,” they said.

Bakkafrost and Mowi both said they had implemented the improvements requested by the regulators and insisted they were committed to the “highest standards” of fish welfare.

The Ferret [reported in February 2026](https://www.theferret.scot/weak-salmon-farm-watchdog-100-investigations-and-just-two-warning-letters/) that APHA had issued two warning letters after investigating 104 complaints about salmon farms between 2020 and 2025\. But the agency refused to say to which farms the letters were sent.

We then [reported in April](https://www.theferret.scot/salmon-farms-rapped-over-animal-welfare/) that APHA had named the two farms after an internal review under freedom of information law. But the agency still refused to release copies of the warning letters. 

Now, after another internal review, APHA has provided The Ferret with [the letters](https://www.documentcloud.org/projects/225369-warning-letters-to-salmon-farms/?ref=theferret.scot). For the first time, they disclose the accusations levelled against the salmon farms, and the improvements recommended.

[‘Weak’ salmon farm watchdog: 100 investigations and just two warning lettersInvestigations into allegations of poor fish welfare at salmon farms by the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency have risen by more than ten times in six years, while site inspections have decreased.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2d/e2/2de2844d-80a7-4c7b-8025-6f1f39724aa6/content/images/icon/TheFerret_Favicon_White-1-15fc5005-9c55-4cf8-9e62-5290ef815e1a.png)The FerretRob Edwards![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2d/e2/2de2844d-80a7-4c7b-8025-6f1f39724aa6/content/images/thumbnail/Damaged-salmon-in-Loch-Roag--2--thanks-to-Corin-Smith-c6ab4248-1db6-4789-bee0-62a3d1353f5c.jpg)](https://www.theferret.scot/weak-salmon-farm-watchdog-100-investigations-and-just-two-warning-letters/)

APHA launched an investigation into practices at Bakkafrost’s [Quarry Point](https://www.theferret.scot/aquaculture-stewardship-council-bakkafrost/) salmon farm on Loch Fyne after the campaign group, [Animal Equality](https://animalequality.org.uk/?ref=theferret.scot), released [covert video footage](https://vimeo.com/1095159692?ref=theferret.scot) and made a complaint in June 2025.

The agency sent [a formal warning letter](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28543211-apha-warning-letter-to-bakkafrost-on-quarry-point-4-november-2025/?ref=theferret.scot) on 4 November 2025, accusing the company of breaching the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 by failing to prevent "unnecessary suffering”. 

The letter described how the video showed two members of staff putting “dead or moribund” salmon into a large plastic bin. ”At no point during the footage is there an assessment to check if fish are still alive and, if so, no attempt to humanely euthanise any of them,” said APHA. “Thus, they are left to asphyxiate.”

The agency urged Bakkafrost to improve training to ensure that staff comply with company procedures, and warned that breaches must not be repeated. "We will continue to inspect operations at Bakkafrost sites and may attend future operations to verify that these corrective actions have been effectively implemented,” [APHA added](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28543211-apha-warning-letter-to-bakkafrost-on-quarry-point-4-november-2025/?ref=theferret.scot).

“Inspections may be unannounced. This letter is without prejudice to any further enforcement or other action, which may be taken at a later date.”

> *"These shameful offences would never have come to light without the use of covert cameras" - Abigail Penny, Animal Equality*

[Animal Equality](https://animalequality.org.uk/?ref=theferret.scot) found it “encouraging” that APHA had at last publicly acknowledged that the breaches of animal welfare law were unacceptable. “But a warning letter is nowhere near an adequate response,” said the group’s executive director, Abigail Penny.

“These animals suffered terribly and needlessly under Bakkafrost’s watch, and these shameful offences would never have come to light without the use of covert cameras. The punishment simply does not fit the crime.”

APHA also investigated Bakkafrost’s salmon farm at West Strome on Loch Carron in 2023, following [a complaint and video footage](https://donstaniford.com/wp-content/uploads/complaint-vs-welfare-biosecurity-breaches-at-bakkafrost-in-loch-carron-dec-2023-2.pdf?ref=theferret.scot) from the anti-salmon farming campaigners, [Don Staniford](https://www.donstaniford.org/?ref=theferret.scot) and [Jamie Moyes](https://www.facebook.com/p/Abolish-Salmon-Farming-61550960233082/).

In a [warning letter sent in December 2023](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28543209-apha-warning-letter-to-bakkafrost-on-west-strome-18-december-2023/?ref=theferret.scot), the agency said the video showed a few “struggling” salmon that staff members failed to kill. “No action was taken so these few individuals suffered unnecessarily until death occurred,” APHA added.

“By acting on the company protocols, the operatives could and should have prevented this unnecessary suffering from happening. It is reasonable to expect that action should have been taken.”

Don Staniford, director of [Scottish Salmon Watch](https://www.facebook.com/scottishsalmonwatch.org/), has been filming salmon farms and filing complaints to APHA since 2018\. “I am normally stonewalled,” he said.

“It is encouraging to hear that Bakkafrost was warned over welfare breaches in West Strome, but it would have been nice to be notified. Salmon farming is a welfare nightmare with millions of farmed salmon suffering in silence.”

[Bakkafrost Scotland](https://www.bakkafrostscotland.com/?ref=theferret.scot) described warning letters as “a standard regulatory tool” used by APHA following investigations into complaints. "APHA carried out investigations and subsequently confirmed that appropriate measures had been implemented,” a company spokesperson told The Ferret.

"We remain committed to the highest standards of fish welfare and continuous improvement across all our operations."

[A fish farm breached animal welfare rules. The regulator still took firms there on a PR tourThe Aquaculture Stewardship Council monitors standards at Scottish fish farms to help consumers choose “environmentally and socially responsible” farmed seafood. But it showcased a farm that had breached its rules on sea lice 11 times.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2d/e2/2de2844d-80a7-4c7b-8025-6f1f39724aa6/content/images/icon/TheFerret_Favicon_White-1-373f2747-f820-4d2f-aa4b-d7d15307c0f8.png)The FerretDaniel Shailer![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2d/e2/2de2844d-80a7-4c7b-8025-6f1f39724aa6/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1628859742240-269783f56d17-8f99ced4-a41c-4d8e-94d7-b10232514630)](https://www.theferret.scot/aquaculture-stewardship-council-bakkafrost/)

Highland Council investigated Mowi’s Loch Harport salmon farm on the Isle of Skye after the [Green Britain Foundation](https://www.greenbritainfoundation.co.uk/?ref=theferret.scot), founded by the green entrepreneur [Dale Vince](https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/dale-vince?ref=theferret.scot), published [video footage](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b-4eV0Oy7G7-wtMfvdDpzey7JztA7tOy/view?ref=theferret.scot) and made [a complaint](https://www.greenbritainfoundation.co.uk/updates/upermarkets-told-to-remove-scottish-salmon-by-rspca-after-seeing-extremely-upsett/?ref=theferret.scot) in May 2025\. 

In its [warning letter on 16 June 2025](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28543210-highland-council-warning-letter-to-mowi-on-loch-harport-16-june-2025/?ref=theferret.scot), the council said animal welfare law had been breached. The video showed “insufficient practices” during the euthanasia of farmed salmon, including “prolonged time spent out of water”, “ineffective restraint” and “inadequate technique”, it stated.

“There was also footage of a fish being thrown by a Mowi employee at another Mowi employee, which then lands on the floor and is returned to the pen."

The council listed 10 measures that had been agreed by Mowi to prevent a recurrence. It warned that, along with APHA, it would make future visits, “which may be unannounced”. 

The council said: “If any allegations of this nature are received in the future a report may be put to the Procurator Fiscal for their consideration.”

Loch Harport salmon farm is certified as organic by the [Soil Association](https://www.soilassociation.org/for-business/soil-association-certification/?ref=theferret.scot), meaning that it should [uphold](https://www.soilassociation.org/what-we-do/our-standards/what-are-organic-standards/?ref=theferret.scot) “the highest possible standards of animal welfare, environmental and wildlife protection”.

> *“There is no such thing as organic factory farming" - Rupert Evelyn, Green Britain Foundation.*

But according to the [Green Britain Foundation](https://www.greenbritainfoundation.co.uk/?ref=theferret.scot), salmon farms were “factory farming” and could not be organic. Organic was “the label you buy when you want to believe the fish had a decent life”, said the group’s campaign director, Rupert Evelyn.

“There is no such thing as organic factory farming. There is just factory farming with a better logo, and shoppers paying a premium for a reassurance nobody was in a position to give them.”

The Soil Association is [currently reviewing](https://www.soilassociation.org/what-we-do/our-standards/standards-innovation/uk-organic-salmon-standards/?ref=theferret.scot) whether it will continue to certify salmon farms as organic. “We were deeply saddened to see this footage 15 months ago, which showed a standard of euthanasia not tolerated by Soil Association organic standards,” said a spokesperson.

“We required swift corrective actions and long-term plans to prevent reoccurrence. Corrective actions, rather than removal of certification, can often be the best outcome for the animals.”

But if breaches occurred again, the association warned it would review the matter. "Further actions can include removing organic status from the fish or the site,” it said.

[Mowi Scotland](https://mowi.com/uk/?ref=theferret.scot) said it had implemented all 10 measures outlined in the letter from Highland Council, and that the Loch Harport farm was still certified as organic. Subsequent visits by the council, APHA and other animal welfare groups had found “no further concerns”, a spokesperson added.

“The welfare of our fish is at the heart of what we do. It is also our business model. Healthy fish that grow to optimum levels are highly sought after all over the world and Scotland’s salmon farmers work to the highest welfare standards of anywhere in the world.”

[APHA](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency?ref=theferret.scot) declined to comment on individual cases. "We treat all reports of suspected cases of poor welfare at salmon farms very seriously and we will not hesitate to take further action if we find evidence of cruelty or neglect,” said a spokesperson.

[Highland Council](https://www.highland.gov.uk/?ref=theferret.scot) also said it took animal welfare complaints seriously, and investigated alongside APHA.