The Scamons: Voting Now Open for 'Best Supporting Bullshit' Award!

Voting is now open for 'Best Supporting Bullshit' at The Scamons (held in Aviemore on May 4) @MowiScotlandLtd @scotseafarms @ScotlandSalmon @ScottishSPCA @ASC_aqua
Voting closes on 30 April – more details via https://t.co/fjF3wYBa0o @aquacultureuk @DiversifiedUK @MacAviemore pic.twitter.com/1qy8yLLu1w

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 21, 2022

The last year has witnessed some truly magnificent bullshit from the salmon farming sector which will be rewarded at the 'Scamons' in May.

It is with great pleasure that Scamon Scotland officially opens the voting in the 'Best Supporting Bullshit' Award (the 'Scamons' award ceremony will take place outside the MacDonald Aviemore Hotel on May 4).

Ladies first of course. The first nominee is Anne Anderson – who left the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in 2018 to join the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisatioon before being poached by Scottish Sea Farms as their 'Sustainability Champion' in March 2021.

"As someone who cares passionately about protecting our environment, I believe strongly in salmon farming as a low carbon food producer and have seen first-hand just how much those working in the sector care about farming sustainably, in every sense of the term" (Anne Anderson, March 2021 as quoted in Fish Farming Expert)

How greenwashing works – Anne Anderson leaves @ScottishEPA in 2018 to join @SSPOsays (after being wined and dined by lobbyists https://t.co/PYSHIAfAcU) and now joins Norwegian salmon farming giant @scotseafarms @LeroySeafood https://t.co/WeEvq6Xe6m

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 29, 2021

Next up (and considered a lock by many industry insiders) is Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland (formerly called the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation).

"Scottish salmon is also the best, healthiest and most nutritious product that we can present to consumers whether here in the UK or around the world" (Tavish Scott, January 2022 as quoted in The Scotsman)

Mortalities at disease-ridden 'Scottish' salmon farms are piling up higher than Tavish Scott's bullshit! https://t.co/tBz56oIRHK
Since last April's denial @tavishscott @BBCScotNine that salmon were dying of infectious diseases https://t.co/LKYZtFDWmP over 8 million have died! pic.twitter.com/zfzAzuyJPn

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 21, 2022

Outgoing chair of the SSPCA and head vet for Scottish Sea Farms is Ronnie Soutar. Dr Soutar is retiring as chair of the SSPCA in May so it would be fitting if he walked away with some silverware for his sterling efforts whitewashing welfare abuse on RSPCA Assured salmon farms.

"No-one wants to see any fish potentially suffering but thankfully, those occasions are rare. By selectively publicising those very few images, CIWF are being hugely misleading. Those pictures do not reflect my experience of the extraordinarily high standards Scotland's fish farmers are setting" (Ronnie Soutar in March 2021 as quoted in a press release issued by the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation)

How is the SSPCA benefiting from the "expert animal welfare knowledge" of @scotseafarms head vet Ronnie Soutar? https://t.co/OT4gnLMESQ
As Chairperson of the SSPCA surely he should be preventing not promoting animal cruelty?@SSPCA_Kirsteen @SSPCA_Mike @Gilly_SSPCA @ScottishSPCA pic.twitter.com/seUpJLYSBc

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 1, 2020

Ben Hadfield, CEO of Mowi Scotland, needs no introduction to those following the salmon farming sector's steady stream of bullshit over the last few decades.

Mowi's 'Million Dollar' Man Ben Hadfield trousers £528,153 in profit from share scheme @ScotlandMowi https://t.co/dzqFoOYxqA
Will he use the £££££s to pay compensation for genetic pollution via escapes @ScotGovNetZero or maybe lobby @ScottishEPA to use neonicotinoids? #Salmafia pic.twitter.com/JLCIOleEam

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 23, 2021

"We are leading the world…..in sustainable and responsible food production" (Ben Hadfield in September 2021 as quoted in a Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation press release)

Secret Filming Exposes Welfare Abuse at RSPCA Assured Mowi – Campaigners call for Mowi to be fined & RSPCA certification rescinded! https://t.co/dhVFllDjXX @rspcaassured @MowiScotlandLtd @marinescotland @APHAgovuk @MairiGougeon @SSPCA_Kirsteen pic.twitter.com/jzo2fi13xK

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 20, 2021

Mowi's Ian Roberts is a master in polishing turds and in spreading scientific doubt and his long service to both Marine Harvest and Mowi would make him a worthy winner of this year's coveted trophy.

"Specific to salmon aquaculture, it seems that as science and facts prove the sustainability of aquaculture, anti-salmon farming activists have become more and more desperate to control their narrative by blocking dialogue" (Ian Roberts in October 2021 as quoted in SeaWest News)

Mowi's Director of Communications @BBCTheOneShow: "We've entered into a 2-year comprehensive study to make sure that we understand if there are any long term impacts….we're talking about a potential risk but we just don't know. What we need is science" https://t.co/YxeLot9XGc pic.twitter.com/5L4cDUsf1X

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 12, 2020

The sixth and final nomination is Ally Dingwall – formerly of Marine Harvest and Sainsbury's but since November 2021 he's been Senior Director of Technical Operations at the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (aka the Abominable Salmon Council).

"ASC will play a crucial role in ensuring a growing supply of environmentally sustainably and socially responsible food from the aquaculture industry" (Ally Dingwall in November 2021 as quoted in Fish Farming Expert)

Open letter to the ASC: Please cancel all certification of Mowi's toxic Scottish salmon! https://t.co/N9MwDaN0kQ @ASC_aqua @MowiScotlandLtd @fms_scotland @SalmonTroutCons
Scottish salmon is farmed irresponsibly not responsibly! @rspcaassured @ASA_UK @sainsburys @Tesco @LidlGB pic.twitter.com/3L76as7mTY

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 6, 2022

Tomorrow will see voting open for the 'Worst Salmon Farm of the Year' award which is once again packed with disease-ridden salmon and mass mortalities. Loch Spelve (Scottish Sea Farms) – where Infectious Salmon Anaemia was reported to the World Organization for Animal Health in September 2021 – is an early front-runner with the judging panel.

Loch Spelve. The farm supplying @marksandspencer and the one which Scottish Sea Farms is up for an award from @VIBES_Awards under the auspices of @ScottishEPA @TerryAHearn https://t.co/YOglO1dXL8

— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) September 21, 2021

Other salmon farms sure to make the shortlist include The Scottish Salmon Company's lice-infested cess-pit at West Strome in Loch Carron.

The Go Pro camera never lies – unlike salmon farmers! https://t.co/noxn89oEZO @salmon_scottish pic.twitter.com/QdpCNIADym

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 12, 2021

Mowi's disease-ridden salmon farms at SW Shuna and Poll Na Gille around the Island of Shuna near Craobh Haven seem certain to figure too.

Today's Times newspaper: "Mowi could lose its 'RSPCA Assured' labelling, which guarantees consumers the fish is reared in line with the highest welfare standards. “We are concerned by some of the images that have been shared with us,” said @rspcaassured https://t.co/dWHR2Vyr3n

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 26, 2021

You may have seen Mowi's lice-infested salmon farms – along with The Scottish Salmon Company's West Strome salmon farm – broadcast on French TV in November 2021:

Video of French TV's 'The Truth About Salmon' featuring Mowi & The Scottish Salmon Company https://t.co/PIwqhztqhu @France5tv @hugoclement @MowiScotlandLtd @salmon_scottish @ScotlandSalmon @Folketrygdfond @Try_Lochlander @waitrose @sainsburys @Tesco @LidlGB @AldiUK @SaumonLabel pic.twitter.com/u16uaGZ97K

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 21, 2021

The Scottish Salmon Company's salmon farm at Meall Mhor in Loch Fyne is also tipped to feature following secret filming by Inside Scottish Salmon Feedlots in May 2021:

For more details on the awards and protests on May 4 please keep track online here

New campaign launched against Norwegian giant https://t.co/mnTlXCTVne
"Mowi is Madness, Mowi is Badness"
May the 4th Protest Against Toxic Salmon – may the force of wild salmon be with you! @MowiScotlandLtd @ScotlandMowi @ScotlandSalmon @aquacultureuk @DiversifiedUK #Mowi

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) February 16, 2022