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: 

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In the UK, up to 77 million fish are farmed and killed each year – that’s approximately 210,959 per day.

There is an abundance of scientific evidence highlighting that farmed fish and other aquatic animals have an ability to feel joy and to feel pain.

Despite this knowledge, fish are currently facing extreme suffering due to a lack of specific, meaningful protections in law.

Combined with a complete lack of regulatory oversight of farmed fish abattoirs, the aquaculture industry is being left to monitor itself in the eyes of the law.

The UK Government has a duty of care to farmed fish used by the UK aquaculture industry. It is critical to ensure that laws are put in place, compliance is maintained, and those failing to meet legal standards are penalised accordingly.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, are calling on the UK Government to implement the following as a matter of priority:

• Fish must receive species-specific, meaningful provisions in the Welfare At Time Of Killing (WATOK) regulations, which currently only offers these detailed protections for farmed land animals
• Consistency measures must be put in place, where a certain rate of failure in any welfare metric triggers machinery halt, requires summoning of a vet, and provokes an official inspection of the facility by a government official / neutral third-party
• Fish slaughterhouses across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland must be subject to regular announced and unannounced inspections to take place annually
• Fish must receive ante-mortem welfare inspections from the relevant bodies in each country of the UK
• CCTV must be a mandatory requirement in fish slaughterhouses, with monitoring from public bodies

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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. 

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