Mowi's 'Host' With the Most....Toxic Chemicals & Antibiotics (certified as "responsibly farmed" by the ASC)!

Please boycott Scottish salmon certified as "farmed responsibly" @ASC_aqua
Mowi's "responsibly farmed" @rspcaassured Scottish salmon sold @sainsburys & @Tesco uses a cocktail of toxic chemicals – it should be labelled as "farmed irresponsibly"! @ASA_UK https://t.co/cxEj1GFxlh pic.twitter.com/asBtEY7mMy

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 6, 2022

Data published via Scotland's Aquaculture – sourced from returns submitted by salmon farming companies to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency – reveal shocking levels of toxic chemical use by Norwegian behemoth Mowi since it was renamed three years ago.

Revealed: Mowi's toxic salmon – farms currently being audited @ASC_aqua as "responsibly farmed" have reported over a dozen doses of lobster-killing Deltamethrin, Azamethiphos & Emamectin benzoate since 2019! @MowiScotlandLtd @rspcaassured @ScotlandSalmon https://t.co/cxEj1GFxlh pic.twitter.com/My2mwNlmBg

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 6, 2022

Mowi's "responsibly farmed" Scottish salmon is sold in Sainsbury's and Tesco (currently being investigated by advertising and trading standards following a complaint filed by Scottish Salmon Watch in November 2021) and over the festive season it was marketed as 'Host'.

Consumers may not realise that Mowi's 'Host' salmon was irresponsibly farmed with shocking levels of mortalities, lice infestation and the use of a cocktail of toxic chemicals including shellfish-killing Deltamethrin, Azamethiphos, Hydrogen peroxide and Emamectin benzoate.

Despite objections from the Mowinckel family from which the Mowi strain of salmon took its name, Marine Harvest was renamed Mowi on 1 January 2019. The change of name from Marine Harvest, as publicly admitted by Mowi's CEO Alf-Helge Aarskog, was due to the "negative perception" of consumers. Three years later, however, the name Mowi has become synonymous with toxic chemical pollution, infectious diseases, mass mortalities, welfare abuse and lice infestation despite being branded as 'welfare friendly' via RSPCA Assured and certified as environmentally responsible via the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.

Scottish Salmon Watch has number-crunched published data on toxic chemical use by Mowi since 1 January 2019 and here's the worst Mowi salmon farms (all accredited via RSPCA Assured and some certified via the ASC) in terms of the use of the shellfish-killing chemicals Deltamethrin, Azamethiphos and Emamectin benzoate headed by Greshornish and Caolas a Deas (West and East) with 18 doses of toxic chemicals (data up to June 2021).

In August 2021, Mowi's Greshornish salmon farm reported another 200 gram dose of Emamectin benzoate.

Photo: A disease-ridden Mowi farmed salmon from Loch Greshornish in March 2020 – photo taken by the Scottish Government

In July 2021, Mowi's Caolas a Deas West salmon farm in Loch Shell reported two more doses of Azamethiphos (950g) and Deltamethrin (40g) and Mowi's Caolas a Deas East salmon farm reported two more doses of Azamethiphos (2750g) and Deltamethrin (40g).

Mowi has an appalling track record of chemical pollution in Loch Shell. In 2013, The Guardian reported (when Mowi was named Marine Harvest):

The Sunday Herald reported in 2011:

The Sunday Herald reported in 2013:

In September 2021 (the latest data available), another 510 grams of Azamethiphos was used by Mowi at Caolas a Deas East in Loch Shell and another 570 grams at Caolas a Deas West:

The story of how the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has opened the floodgates to the use of toxic chemicals such as Azamethiphos, Deltamethrin and Emamectin benzoate – despite peer-reviewed science detailing lethal impacts on shellfish – is one of toxic politics. The Ferret reported in February 2021:

The Ferret reported in October 2020:

The Ferret reported in April 2020:

The Ferret reported in June 2019:

The Ferret reported in March 2017:

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in March 2021:

Please ban Deltamethrin use by Scottish salmon pharmers! @ScottishEPA https://t.co/X81m8zYm5c
Over 2,000 doses of the lobster-killing chemical have been used by salmon farms in Scotland since 2008!@ScotlandMowi @salmon_scottish @kamesfishfarm @scotseafarms @GriegShetland @scotgp pic.twitter.com/TgagUNSJVa

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 24, 2021

Peer-reviewed scientific research has reported that Deltamethrin, Azamethiphos and Emamectin benzoate are all acutely toxic to shellfish. Alphamax is the trade name for the toxic chemical Deltamethrin – shown by peer-reviewed science to be lethal to shellfish and labelled by the chemical manufacturer as a 'Marine Pollutant'. An article – "The impact of anti-sea lice pesticides, azamethiphos and deltamethrin, on European lobster (Homarus gammarus) larvae in the Norwegian marine environment" – published in scientific journal Environmental Pollution in September 2020 reported:

The Institute of Marine Research in Bergen, Norway, reported in September 2020:

"Dangerous doses of Deltamethrin typically drifted between 5 & 15 km. In rare cases, the anti-sea lice agent could travel 20-30 kilometres before it was sufficiently diluted to pose no risk to lobster larvae" https://t.co/oqcZ7yEH0f @Havforskningen @SoilAssocScot @SoilAssociation pic.twitter.com/Qif2FaZneo

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 21, 2021

Another Mowi registered fish farm site – Port na Moine – actually reported 20 doses of toxic chemicals between January 2019 and June 2021 but it is understood to be a rainbow trout farm operated by Kames Fish Farming (an unofficial switch has taken place with a Kames site at SW Shuna/Rubh an Trilleachain operated by Mowi in return).

In August 2021, Mowi's Port na Moine fish farm reported a further dose of 180 grams of Azamethiphos. The ongoing use of Azamethiphos has persisted despite increasing scientific evidence of impacts lethal and sublethal impacts on lobsters and a scientific paper published in Nature in 2019 (co-authored by Stuart Cannon of Kames Fish Farming) on the welfare and health of rainbow trout subjected to repeated chemical treatment.

The SW Shuna/Rubh an Trilleachain salmon farm which is operated by Mowi but registered as Kames Fish Farming reported 12 doses of toxic chemicals between January 2019 and June 2021:

Here's video footage of lice-infested salmon shot inside the SW Shuna salmon farm in July 2021:

Other Mowi salmon farms reporting over a dozen doses of toxic chemicals between January 2019 and June 2021 include MacLeans Nose in Loch Sunart (17), Grey Horse Channel (16), North Shore East & West in Loch Erisort (15), Tabhaigh in Loch Erisort (13), Soay Sound in West Loch Tarbert (13), Sconser Quarry (13), Maol Ban in Loch Ainort (13), Invasion Bay in Loch Sunart (13), Creag an Sagairt West in Loch Hourn (13) and Camus Glas in Loch Sunart (13):

Photos published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate

Photo: RSPCA Assured salmon farmed at Mowi's Tabhaigh site in Loch Erisort (published in January 2020 by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate)

Other Mowi salmon farms reporting 12 doses of toxic chemicals between January 2019 and June 2021 include Groatay and Ardintoul:

Photos published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate

Mowi's Groatay salmon farm reported another dose of Emamectin benzoate in July 2021; another dose of Azamethiphos in August 2021 and doses of both Azamethiphos and Emamectin benzoate in September 2021.

Mowi's Ardintoul salmon farm in Loch Alsh (a 'Special Area of Conservation') reported another dose of Emamectin benzoate in July 2021 and another in August 2021. When Scottish Salmon Watch visited in November 2019 we found dead fish piled up in bins at Ardintoul.

When the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate visited Mowi's Ardintoul salmon farm in October 2019 they reported lice infestation, infectious diseases and mass mortalities.

Moribund Mowi: "At the time of the visit moribund fish & some floating mortalities were observed in all cages" @marinescotland https://t.co/qr0tO3BMVR 73,459 morts (3,221 due to concussions from increased Caligus burdens), Salmon Gill Poxvirus, AGD & Anaemia @MowiScotlandLtd pic.twitter.com/GulKfO5p5z

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) January 27, 2020

Other Mowi salmon farms – all certified as 'welfare friendly' via the discredited RSPCA Assured label – using multiple 'treatments' of toxic chemicals between January 2019 and June 2021 include Poll na Gille (11), Bagn Dail nan Ceann/Bay of the Dead Heads (11), Muck (10) and Colonsay (10):

When Scottish Salmon Watch visited Mowi's Poll na Gille salmon farm in July 2021 we filmed lice-infested salmon swimming alongside wild fish inside the cage:

When Scottish Salmon Watch visited Mowi's Bagn Dail nan Ceann/Bay of the Dead Heads salmon farm in July 2019 we discovered dead fish floating on the surface leading to Mowi being rapped for breaches of animal welfare over mass mortalities and lice infestation:

Mowi's aptly named Muck salmon farm has a long history of mass mortalities, welfare problems and infectious diseases. Here's photos of morts being disposed of in Mallaig from Mowi's Isle of Muck salmon farm in 2019:

Mortality data published online by the Scottish Government details 6.6 million mortalities reported via 359 'Mortality Event Reports' from Mowi alone between January 2019 and 11 October 2021 – including multiple cases involving toxic chemicals and antibiotics at sites already certified as "responsibly farmed" via the Aquaculture Stewardship Council or undergoing 'Initial Audit':

Sea lice data published online by the Scottish Government since March 2021 (data available until early December 2021) also reveals infestation at Mowi – including ASC certified sites and those salmon farms undergoing 'initial audit' – with a staggering 274 cases of Mowi fish farms exceeding 1 lice per fish. Here's the most lice-infested Mowi salmon farms:

Be Sure to Boycott RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon! https://t.co/61yIroIUBp Shocking new photos published of Mowi's disease-ridden North Shore feedlot in Loch Erisort @marinescotland @MowiScotlandLtd "visibly moribund fish" & "significant lice damage" @sainsburys @rspcaassured pic.twitter.com/gjLaeqpcFz

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 7, 2020

In December 2020, the ASC's CEO Chris Ninnes claimed on BBC Countyfile that only salmon farms with less than 1 lice per fish (as well as less than 10% mortality) would be suitable for ASC certification:

Watch Chris Ninnes, CEO of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, on @BBCCountryfile hammer the nail in the coffin of Scottish salmon by demanding less than 10% mortality on @ASC_aqua certified farms – 77% of salmon farms cannot meet the mortality standard! @SSPOsays @ScotlandMowi pic.twitter.com/TZzuKoIXWB

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 8, 2020

According to the Scottish Government's lice data (published online here), there were 69 cases of Mowi breaching 1 lice per fish at ASC-certified salmon farms (Linnhe, Leven, Marulaig Bay, Stulaigh, Gorsten, Harport, Rum and Invasion Bay) and salmon farms currently being audited by the ASC (Caolas a Deas West and East, Camus Glas, Alsh, Groatay, Grey Horse Channel, Duich, Greanem and Ardintoul). Here's the worst 40:

In fact, the ASC's Salmon Standard actually demands a lice limit of 0.1 during juvenile outmigration:

The general public would be forgiven for assuming that mass mortalities, lice infestation and the repeated use of toxic chemicals – including lobster-killing Deltamethrin, Azamethiphos and Emamectin benzoate as well as the seaweed-killing Hydrogen peroxide and antibiotics such as Oxytetracycline – would rule out certification as "responsibly farmed" salmon via the Aquaculture Stewardship Council. However, that's not the case with Mowi already securing ASC certification at Stulaigh, Invasion Bay, MacLeans Nose and Gorsten with other salmon farms including Caolas a Deas (West and East) and Ardintoul lined up for certification soon:

Mowi's Gorsten salmon farm in Loch Linnhe was famously exposed in 2021 by Netflix's 'Seaspiracy' which quite literally lifted the lid on disease-ridden RSPCA Assured and ASC-certified salmon:

Norwegian salmon giant Mowi has reacted to Netflix's 'Seaspiracy' by publishing videos claiming to show healthy farmed salmon at their @rspcaassured @ASC_aqua salmon farm in Loch Linnhe which featured in @seaspiracy @ScotlandMowi @SSPOsays @iamalitabrizi https://t.co/DXJ6gnAUgl pic.twitter.com/Xf0W4GGlQg

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 16, 2021

Watch video footage when Scottish Salmon Watch visited Mowi's Gorsten salmon farm joined by the producers of 'Seaspiracy' in November 2018:

Mowi's Stulaigh salmon farm is already certified by the ASC – a trade body set up via a toxic partnership between Marine Harvest (Mowi) and WWF (who received money from Marine Harvest) – despite using 10 doses of toxic chemicals between September 2019 and May 2021:

In October 2019, Scottish Salmon Watch forced the disclosure of gruesome photos from Mowi's Stulaigh salmon farm in Loch Eynort despite objections from Mowi:

Mowi: "the risk of people turning away from a healthy food such as salmon as a reaction to irresponsible use of photos for the sole purpose of creating fear in the consumer, is a risk to public health" https://t.co/u9Fk2kOkxz @MowiScotlandLtd @marinescotland @FergusEwingMSP pic.twitter.com/M3AyD3jMTm

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 24, 2019

Why the ASC permits salmon farms to use a cocktail of toxic chemicals and still pass off chemically embalmed salmon as "responsibly farmed" is another sordid story of toxic politics and commercial corruption. Translating the weasel words of the ASC's explanation for their "innovative" approach on condoning toxic chemical use on salmon farms is a torturous exercise but is explained via "New Information Underpins ASC's Innovative Approach to Reducing Sea Lice Treatments" published by the ASC in July 2019.

The ASC cite a 2017 public consulation document:

The ASC public consultation document includes a description of the Parasiticide Treatment Index (PTI) which to the layperson is so complex that it is impossible to comprehend but hidden in the data is the incontrovertible fact that Scotland is a toxic outlier:

The ASC public consultation document included an assessment of the impact of the use of toxic chemicals on lobsters with July and August identified as a particularly sensitive time:

In other words, Scotland is the worst country in the world in terms of the use of toxic chemicals (and has led to the ASC watering down their rules to allow Scottish salmon farms to meet their piss-poor standards with Mowi moving their own goalposts on ASC certification).

The same conclusion – i.e. that salmon farming in Scotland was the worst in the world in terms of toxic chemical use – was drawn in reports published last month (6 December 2021) by Seafood Watch.

It's official – Scottish salmon is the worst in the world! According to a new assessment @SeafoodWatch salmon farmed in the Western Isles is ranked THE worst followed by Southwest & Northwest #Scotland @ScotlandSalmon @MowiScotlandLtd @scotseafarms @GriegShetland @salmon_scottish pic.twitter.com/p1c2Ck8O7t

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 7, 2021

"Avoid" Scottish salmon warns a new report @SeafoodWatch – salmon farmed in #Scotland rated 'red' due to the use of toxic chemicals, infectious diseases & escapes! @ScotlandSalmon @MowiScotlandLtd @scotseafarms @salmon_scottish @GriegShetland @CookeScotland @LochDuartSalmon pic.twitter.com/YztNAcguoC

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 7, 2021

The salmon farming industry's dependence on a cocktail of toxic chemicals has left a lasting legacy of pollution on the sea bed. The front page of The Sunday Herald reported in 2017:

Here's the table of contaminated lochs including many polluted by Mowi:

Use of Emamectin benzoate – shown by peer-reviewed science to kill shellfish – has been so pervasive on Scottish salmon farms that it has been detected in the flesh of farmed salmon. The Daily Mail reported in March 2017:

The Ferret reported in August 2020:

Mowi (when named Marine Harvest) was caught with Emamectin benzoate contamination in farmed salmon from Loch Shell via testing by the Veterinary Medicine Directorate in 2005:

BBC News reported in 2004:

BBC Panorama reported in May 2019:

Just last month (5 December 2021), The Ferret reported:

The chemicals data presented above is just the tip of the iceberg. Read the smallprint in the Scotland's Aquaculture dataset and you will see that it does NOT include toxic chemical use via wellboats. The data therefore ignores ALL use of Hydrogen Peroxide as well as use of Azamethiphos and Deltamethrin via wellboats:

A FOI disclosure (F0192092) by SEPA detailed use of the toxic chemical Azamethiphos via wellboats during 2018 – here's the Top 10 biggest users of this toxic organophosphate:

Further information was disclosed in November 2019 by the Scottish Government via FOI-19-02442 – including well boat data disclosed via Dropbox:

The Devil is in the Data – why no published figures on the use of the toxic chemicals Azamethiphos, Deltamethrin, Hydrogen Peroxide & Imidacloprid via wellboats? @ScottishEPA @marinescotland @nature_scot @salmon_scottish @FergusEwingMSP @SSPOsays @scotgp https://t.co/ylOo17mBul pic.twitter.com/CDPHpSfBTX

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 10, 2020

Data on toxic chemical use by salmon farms via wellboats for 2019 was published by the Scottish Government in November 2020 (Salmosan Vet is the toxic organophosphate Azamethiphos):

Data on toxic chemical use by salmon farms via wellboats in 2019 is published @marinescotland but where is 2020 data & why does 'Scotland's Aquaculture' NOT include wellboat data or use of Hydrogen Peroxide, Formaldehyde etc? @ScottishEPA @SSPOsays https://t.co/7uUbgsOXQu pic.twitter.com/KebWFJ3GdC

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 9, 2020

The use of millions of litres of Hydrogen peroxide – a lethal toxic chemical for shellfish and seaweed/kelp – is shamefully unaccounted for via the Scotland's Aquaculture database. Via a Freedom of Information request in 2017 we know that the use of Hydrogen peroxide by Mowi in particular is astronomical.

Another FOI disclosure by the Scottish Government in November 2019 (191018-HydrogenPeroxide-18) detailed use of Hydrogen peroxide in 2018 – here's Mowi salmon farms ranked in order of highest use (headed by Marulaig Bay which is certified as "responsibly farmed" by the ASC and followed by Groatay and Grey Horse Channel which are both undergoing an 'initial audit' for ASC certification):

A scientific paper published in 2019 graphically illustrated the lethal and sub-lethal impacts of bath treatments such as Hydrogen peroxide, Azamethiphos and Deltamethrin:

Mowi's use of antibiotics also raises alarm bells. The Fish Site reported last month (9 December 2021):

Antibiotic use doubles on Scottish salmon farms in a year! 5.6 tonnes of Oxytetracycline & Florfenicol used in 2020 according to @vmdgovuk report published in November 2021 @ScotlandSalmon
Just say no to drugs, say no to Scottish pharmed salmon! @MowiScotlandLtd @GriegShetland pic.twitter.com/X4vB8A35GR

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 9, 2021

A Freedom of Information request disclosed by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (F0192000) reveals increasing use of antibiotics on marine salmon farms in Scotland spearheaded by Norwegian giant Mowi. Between 2015 and 2019 the use of Aquatet (Oxytetracycline) and Florocol (Florfenicol) increased 14-fold from 144kg to 2084kg (that's 2.1 tonnes)!

Antibiotic use on marine salmon farms in Scotland leapt like a disease-ridden fish from 144kg in 2015 to 2084kg in 2019. That's a 14-fold increase in 5 years with 2.1 tonnes of Oxytetracycline and Florfenicol used in 2019. Data obtained from @ScottishEPA by @SeafoodWatch pic.twitter.com/WsOJ8CVIJK

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 9, 2021

Norwegian giant Mowi accounted for 57% of the use of antibiotics (both Oxytetracycline and Florfenicol) between 2015 and 2019.

Here's the data for 2015 to 2019 presented in Seafood Watch's report on salmon farming in Scotland published in December 2021:

The source data for Seafood Watch's analysis – which ranked Scottish salmon farming regions (Western Isles, Southwest & Northwest) as the worst in the world – is now published below and can be downloaded as an Excel spreadsheet via F0192000. Here's the largest users of Aquatet (Oxytetracycline) between 2015 and 2019 – the list is dominated by Marine Harvest/Mowi (Marine Harvest changed their name to Mowi on 1 January 2019 due to "negative consumer perception") who is responsible for 22 out of the 23 doses:

Here's the largest users of Florocol (Florfenicol) between 2015 and 2019 – with Marine Harvest/Mowi responsible for 39 of the 71 reported doses followed by Grieg Seafood (15), Cooke (12), Kames (4) and Loch Duart (1). By far the biggest dose of Florfenicol was by Mowi in Loch Duich – a Special Area of Conservation and a contentious site which Mowi claimed in 2019 would be closed down and a site which is currently being audited for ASC certification!

Site specific data on antibiotic use is not published via Scotland's Aquaculture database and has only been made available via FOI. Similarly, data on the use of the carcinogenic chemical Formaldehyde (Formalin) – another toxic chemical which Mowi uses in shocking quantities – is not published publicly but has been extracted from SEPA via FOI. Scottish Salmon Watch reported in May 2020:

The Ferret reported in May 2020:

More than 22 tonnes of formaldehyde, which causes cancer, were poured into cages to disinfect salmon in Loch Ness, Loch Sheil, Loch Lochy and seven other lochs over nine months in 2019.https://t.co/qQ3vFdEiIA

— The Ferret (@FerretScot) May 24, 2020

Scottish Salmon Watch revealed in June 2020 that the ASC condoned the use of Formaldehyde:

Anyone for "responsibly certified" Scottish salmon doused in carcinogenic chemical, battered to death, ridden with infectious diseases, served with a side of slaughtered seal & lashings of lice? https://t.co/eY2gaWV3eD @ASC_aqua @MowiScotlandLtd @FergusEwingMSP @rspcaassured pic.twitter.com/lljHE7UyBn

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 3, 2020

A report on Formaldehyde use in Scottish salmon farming published by Fidra in May 2021 included data on the use by Mowi at ASC-certified salmon farms in Loch Lochy, Loch Shiel (Glenfinnan), Loch Garry and Loch Arkaig:

In addition to endorsing the use of carcinogenic Formaldehyde (Formalin), consumers of Mowi's 'Host' salmon may be shocked to discover that the ASC also endorses the use of the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid which Mowi is seeking approval to use in Scotland.

Fish Farming Expert reported in September 2021:

Banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid endorsed by @ASC_aqua as complying with "highest standards of sustainability" https://t.co/NPtMCfUo8N #Greenwashing #Toxic #Salmon @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @MowiScotlandLtd

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) September 21, 2021

Scottish Salmon Watch reported in June 2021:

Anyone for Norwegian Salmon Marindaded in Banned Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (don't worry it's ASC-approved)?! https://t.co/fn6TWu9qo4 #BMK08 #Ectosan #D10AquaticBlast @WeAreBenchmark @FerdOwner @ASC_aqua
Is toxic Norwegian salmon reaching consumers? @seafoodnorway @REMA1000 pic.twitter.com/BpytMop4U2

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) June 17, 2021

Mowi Norway applied in February 2019 to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council for an 'interpretation request' on the use of Imidacloprid (then marketed as Ectosan).

Mowi's request to the ASC inadvertently prompted the public revelation in March 2020 that Ectosan (then re-named by Benchmark as BMK08) was in fact the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid.

Campaigners fear that a nicotine pesticide that the fish farming industry and the Scottish Government want to trial in Scotland could threaten marine wildlife.https://t.co/bw5IBgTwqi

— The Ferret (@FerretScot) March 17, 2020

In May 2020, Scottish Salmon Watch revealed that Mowi had lobbied the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in March 2020 to support a field trial of Ectosan (Imidacloprid) in Loch Ailort.

Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid? https://t.co/S1ovGqCpu7 FOI reveals proposed 'field trial' of toxic neonicotinoid @MowiScotlandLtd at Ardnish in Loch Ailort @ScottishEPA @WeAreBenchmark @marinescotland @FerdOwner @vmdgovuk #BMK08 pic.twitter.com/iUl9lk7XPv

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 20, 2020

How the ASC has watered down their farmed salmon standards to allow the use of a cocktail of toxic chemicals by Mowi (as well as other salmon pharmers) is yet another tale of toxic politics and commercial corruption. The ASC's Salmon Standard v1.3 (July 2019) lays out the consumer con which gives salmon pharmers such as Mowi carte blanche to use a cocktail of toxic chemicals including Azamethiphos, Deltamethrin, Emamectin benzoate, Hydrogen peroxide, Formaldehyde, Imidacloprid as well as antibiotics such as Oxytetracycline. Warning: please read the small print and weasel words very carefully!

Appendix VII of the ASC Salmon Standard v1.3 (July 2019) exposes the scam of Scottish salmon in that Scotland's (and Chile's) sky-high use of toxic chemicals is condoned albeit with a commitment to reduced use:

Whilst Scottish Salmon Watch obviously supports reductions in toxic chemical use, certifying toxic Scottish salmon as "responsibly farmed" via the ASC, the Soil Association or RSPCA Assured is anathema to responsible aquaculture.

And far from reducing the use of toxic chemicals, the latest data published by Scotland's Aquaculture (sourced from data returns submitted by salmon farmers to SEPA) shows that the use of toxic chemicals has increased at Mowi salmon farms. During 2021 (data only up to September 2021 – i.e. missing for Q4) Mowi used more Deltamethrin, Azamethiphos and Emamectin benzoate than in 2020 – with treble the amount of lobster-killing Deltamethrin used by Mowi in 2021 compared to 2020! If you focus on ASC-certified Mowi salmon farms (Linnhe/Ardgour, Gorsten, Leven, Marulaig Bay, Rum, Harport, Stulaigh and Invasion Bay) or Mowi salmon farms undergoing an 'initial audit' for ASC certification (Camus Glas, Caolas a Deas West & East, Alsh (Sron), Duich, Ardintoul, Groatay, Greanem and Grey Horse Channel) then a picture of increasing not decreasing toxic chemical use emerges. For example, Mowi's Camus Glas salmon farm used 66% more Azamethiphos and Emamectin benzoate in 2021 than in 2020 even though data for the last three months of 2021 is not yet available:

Mowi's Caolas a Deas East salmon farm in Loch Shell has used more double the amount of Azamethiphos, Deltamethrin and Emamectin benzoate in the first nine months of 2021 than in the whole of 2020 and 2019 combined!

Mowi's Duich salmon farm – located in a 'Special Area of Conservation' – used the lobster-killing chemical Deltamethrin in 2021 but not in 2020 or 2019:

Mowi's Grey Horse Channel salmon farm has used more Azamethiphos, Deltamethrin and Emamectin benzoate in the first nine months of 2021 than in the whole of 2020 and 2019 combined:

Mowi's Groatay salmon farm has used 49% more Azamethiphos, Deltamethrin and Emamectin benzoate in the first nine months of 2021 (17,115 grams) than in the whole of 2020 and 2019 combined (11,466 grams):

Mowi's ASC-certified salmon farm off the Isle of Rum used four times more Deltamethrin and Azamethiphos in the first nine months of 2021 compared to the whole of 2020 and 2019 combined!

Mowi's MacLeans Nose salmon farm in Loch Sunart used more Azamethiphos, Deltamethrin and Emamectin in the first nine months of 2021 (21,391 grams) compared to the whole of 2020 and 2019 combined (19,849 grams):

Mowi's Marulaig Bay salmon farm in South Uist used four times more Azamethiphos in the first nine months of 2021 than in the whole of 2020 and 2019 combined:

Mowi's ASC-certified Stulaigh salmon farm used four times more Azamethiphos, Deltamethrin and Emamectin benzoate during the first nine months of 2021 (10,900 grams) compared to the whole of 2020 and 2019 combined (2,458 grams):

Back in April 2020, SEPA relaxed the rules on the use of toxic chemicals.

The @SSPOsays, @ScottishEPA, @marinescotland and salmon farmers have been working on ways to keep salmon alive during COVID-19 with "due regard to the environment"🙄

Their answer, as always:

JUST PUMP MORE CHEMICALS INTO THE SEA!! https://t.co/p2UYcChQA8

— Salmon Scotland (@SalmonScotland) April 8, 2020

The Fish Site reported (8 April 2020):

Under the Cloak of #Coronavirus – SEPA open floodgates to lobster-killing chemicals! https://t.co/6AgXQXNlS2 @ScottishEPA Emamectin benzoate is so toxic to shellfish it should be banned not used at higher concentrations & at unlicensed sites @TerryAHearn @SSPOsays @marinescotland pic.twitter.com/4PVFfGl1NU

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 9, 2020

The use of toxic chemicals by ASC-certified salmon farms is not the only problem with the ASC's Salmon Standard. Mass mortalities, welfare abuse and infectious diseases are other problems at ASC-certified salmon farms. Last month, Scottish Salmon Watch reported:

Exposed: Certification of 'responsibly' farmed @MowiScotlandLtd via the Aquaculture Stewardship Council @ASC_aqua permits mortality rates at salmon farms in excess of 36% (not to mention the use of cancer-causing chemicals & antibiotics)! https://t.co/HsXs18bIo6 @rspcaassured pic.twitter.com/XR0vxDDfrQ

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 13, 2021

In November 2021, Scottish Salmon Watch reported that a complaint against Mowi's "responsibly farmed" Scottish salmon had been filed with advertising and trading standards:

Mowi's "responsibly farmed" Scottish salmon sold by @tesco & @sainsburys is subject of a complaint filed by campaigners with advertising & trading standards @ASA_UK @CMAgovUK @TSScot @SSC_seafood https://t.co/XjkuDA7WsB
Scottish salmon is irresponsibly farmed! @ScotlandSalmon pic.twitter.com/PzmQeFu5D3

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 22, 2021

Caveat Emptor – buyer beware of cheap & nasty Mowi salmon! @MowiScotlandLtd @ScotlandSalmon https://t.co/NgLIoKYfu3

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) November 3, 2021

In August 2021, Scottish Salmon Watch reported:

Seaspiracy's video shocker on @rspcaassured Scottish salmon @MowiScotlandLtd is approaching 1 million views – and has over 36,000 likes! @seaspiracy https://t.co/I80mzoym6j
Please boycott Scottish salmon! #Boycott #Scottish #Salmon pic.twitter.com/iagrnIMjFM

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) August 4, 2021

The Times reported in July 2021:

Don Staniford, the director of Scottish Salmon Watch, which campaigns against fish farms, took the video. He said: “In three years of secret filming at more than 25 salmon farms I have never seen such unnecessary suffering” https://t.co/dWHR2Vyr3n @thetimesscot @rspcaassured

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) July 26, 2021

The Mail On Sunday reported in July 2021:

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

Netflix's 'Seaspiracy' features disease-ridden Mowi salmon sourced from the RSPCA Assured and ASC-certified farm at Gorsten in Loch Linnhe:

Norwegian salmon giant Mowi has reacted to Netflix's 'Seaspiracy' by publishing videos claiming to show healthy farmed salmon at their @rspcaassured @ASC_aqua salmon farm in Loch Linnhe which featured in @seaspiracy @ScotlandMowi @SSPOsays @iamalitabrizi https://t.co/DXJ6gnAUgl pic.twitter.com/Xf0W4GGlQg

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 16, 2021

When Scottish Salmon Watch visited Mowi's "healthy" salmon farm in Loch Torridon in September 2020 the farmed salmon on display in a tanker full of dead fish did not look very healthy (no wonder Mowi's lawyers threated legal action).

When you're next in the supermarket please steer clear of Mowi's RSPCA Assured (and sometimes ASC-certitified) salmon – sold via Sainsbury's, Lidl, Aldi and other retailers.

As Mowi's marketing men say, "Yummi"!

Do these Mowi salmon videoed at Mowi's RSPCA Assured salmon farm in Loch Greshornish in July 2020 look yummy and healthy to you?

RSPCA Assured Mowi Plagued by Mass Mortalities & Infectious Diseases https://t.co/vxZTjE37qA Boycott disease-ridden Scottish salmon treated with antibiotics @MowiScotlandLtd @rspcaassured @sainsburys @LidlGB @AldiUK Enteric Redmouth Disease (Yersiniosis) is like the Black Death! pic.twitter.com/Rry8Y5vFvq

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) May 27, 2020

If Mowi's ad men were truly honest, then they would market their farmed salmon along the lines of: "Yummi Mowi makes you want to vomit!"

Mowi's 'skinless' salmon from Loch Ewe – certified as 'organic' by the Soil Association – are particularly yummy and healthy looking.

How can you seriously promote 'organic' salmon as "healthy" when it is 19% fat? That's fattier than pizza! https://t.co/s7itnIaTTL @sainsburys @SainsburysNews @SoilAssocScot @SoilAssociation @rspcaassured @ScotlandMowi @MowiScotlandLtd @SSPOsays @FSScot @JulieHL @tavishscott pic.twitter.com/i94h1kvCMw

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) March 3, 2021

Mowi's salmon from the Kilbrannan Sound – if they don't escape – comes with the skin already taken off (as testified by a whistleblower)!

Here's what Mowi's @rspcaassured salmon looked like after 300,000 died in the Beast from the East in 2018 at their Carradale farm (the same site hit yesterday by Storm Ellen) https://t.co/hyztwncvhO Skinless Scottish salmon anyone? @MowiScotlandLtd @sainsburys @LidlGB @AldiUK pic.twitter.com/xjf3JM20jG

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) August 21, 2020

Mowi's 'fresh' salmon from the Outer Hebrides look particularly tasty, yummy, healthy and are RSPCA Assured 'welfare friendly' to make you buy with in good conscience!

Be Sure to Boycott RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon! https://t.co/61yIroIUBp Shocking new photos published of Mowi's disease-ridden North Shore feedlot in Loch Erisort @marinescotland @MowiScotlandLtd "visibly moribund fish" & "significant lice damage" @sainsburys @rspcaassured pic.twitter.com/gjLaeqpcFz

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) April 7, 2020

It is not surprising that Mowi's director of communications does not the public viewing such horrific images – or it would put people off their ASC-certified and RSPCA Assured Friday night fish supper!

Mowi: "the risk of people turning away from a healthy food such as salmon as a reaction to irresponsible use of photos for the sole purpose of creating fear in the consumer, is a risk to public health" https://t.co/u9Fk2kOkxz @MowiScotlandLtd @marinescotland @FergusEwingMSP pic.twitter.com/M3AyD3jMTm

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 24, 2019