Fish Expert Reacts to Investigative Footage From Scottish Fish Farm
In February, Animal Equality UK released exclusive drone footage documenting the life and death of farmed fish in Scotland.
The investigation shows fish crammed into pens, being left to suffocate and not being effectively stunned before being killed.
Little is known about the fish farming industry and what it’s like for fish in these places. That’s why we’ve asked fish welfare expert, Mark Borthwick, to comment on the footage.
Watch as he breaks down the most worrying issues he has observed while watching our investigation.
About Mark Borthwick
Mark Borthwick is a fish expert, previously Head of Research at the Aquatic Life Institute and currently OOCDTP Doctoral Fellow. His doctoral project focuses on salmon farming.
How to Help Fish
In the UK, up to 77 million fish are farmed and killed for human consumption every year.
Although there is clear scientific evidence that fish feel pain and can suffer just like other animals, fish receive few specific and detailed legal protections and there are currently no specific requirements as to how they should be delivered, held, stunned or killed.
Animal Equality has launched a petition calling for increased legal protections for fish at the time of killing, mandatory CCTV in fish abattoirs, announced and unannounced inspections, and penalties for those found to be breaking the law.
Speak up for fish by adding your name today:
Thank you {firstname}!
Thank you so much for signing the petition. Small actions like this add up and change the world!
Farmed fish are often forgotten, but you can lend your voice to speak up for them. Please help by sharing this petition with your friends and social media followers.
Thanks for sharing!
{firstname}, thank you again for your support – it will make a huge difference for animals.
Our brave investigators work incredibly hard to expose animal abuse so that, together, we can end it. Make a donation today to help keep them in the field.
Take a stand to help fish. Sign now!
Try Plant-Based
Atlantic salmon are territorial animals who become stressed and aggressive when they’re kept in unnatural confinement. In the wild, they can swim hundreds of miles, yet this industry is trapping them so all they can do is circle around and around for their entire miserable lives. We know these are animals that feel pain and joy, yet by farming them we’re preventing them from carrying out many of their natural behaviours. It will always be cruel to confine and kill salmon.
The most effective way to help animals is to leave them off our plates. Every time we decide to opt for a plant-based product, we spare animals a lifetime of misery. Isn’t it great to have so much power in our hands?
It has never been easier to find delicious plant-based alternatives to animal products. Supermarket shelves are full of cruelty-free options, including ‘tofish’ fillets. If, instead, you are looking for inspiration to prepare your own dishes, download and check out our free cookbook.
Protect Fish
Scientists confirm that fish feel pain and suffer. Protect these sensitive beings by choosing plant-based alternatives to animal food products.
FAQs
Where was the footage taken?
+An Animal Equality investigator filmed salmon and trout facilities in late 2022, between October and November. The facilities we filmed are Loch Cairnbawn (salmon), operated by Loch Duart Ltd, and Loch Etive (trout), operated by Dawnfresh Farming Ltd.
Do fish feel pain?
+Over recent years, fish biologists around the world have produced substantial evidence that, much like mammals and birds, fish also experience conscious pain. In fact, fish have pain receptors which function similarly to ours. They detect potential harm, such as high temperatures, intense pressure, and chemicals.
Are fish protected by law in the UK?
+Although there is clear scientific evidence that fish feel pain and can suffer just like other animals, fish receive few specific and detailed legal protections and there are currently no specific requirements as to how they should be transported, held, stunned or killed.
Who enforces the law on fish farms?
+Mandatory welfare-oriented inspections on fish farms and slaughterhouses in Scotland were introduced for the first time ever in April 2022, following an investigation by Animal Equality inside a salmon abattoir operated by Bakkafrost, then operating under The Scottish Salmon Company brand. However, fish are still left vulnerable to abuse. This serious lack of monitoring and legal enforcement is having a devastating impact on the welfare of fish. To begin to address this, Animal Equality is urging the Government to make inspections mandatory and to install CCTV cameras in fish slaughterhouses across the UK. Sign the petition here
What can I do to help fish?
+You can call on politicians to do better. Join thousands of others by signing Animal Equality’s petition today, calling for increased legal protections for fish at the time of killing, mandatory CCTV in fish abattoirs, announced and unannounced inspections, and penalties for those found to be breaking the law. Sign here.
You can also leave fish off your plate and try delicious plant-based alternatives 🌱
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