Animal Equality Investigation Exposes Abuse and Mass Deaths on Salmon Farms
Animal Equality’s recent investigation exposes abuse and mass deaths on salmon farms.
Over a four-month period in 2024, whistleblowers captured drone footage revealing conditions at three UK salmon farms. These facilities are operated by some of the country’s largest salmon producers.
This investigation exposes the cruelty, high death rates, and lack of transparency within the UK’s farmed fish industry. The footage reveals fish visibly distressed and gasping for air in overcrowded conditions, shedding light on the hidden reality these animals endure.
➡ Discover more about the investigation findings: https://animalequality.org/news/investigations-expose-abuse-on-salmon-farms.
Each year, billions of fish suffer—but you can make a difference, one meal at a time. Dive into the Love Veg cookbook for creative, plant-based recipes, including inspired fish-free alternatives that are kind and delicious.
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Transcript (English — en-US)
Have you ever wondered what it
would be like to soar as free as a bird?
Wings gliding effortlessly
through the sky,
traveling
wherever the wind takes you?
As seagulls roam wild,
they enjoy a perfect view over
Scotland's scenic lakes.
They witness what is so often
hidden from the rest of us...
until now.
Over a four month investigation,
whistleblowers
filmed on several farms
operated by three of the UK's
largest salmon producers.
Across all three locations,
fish pulled from the water show
clear signs of distress,
with many visibly struggling
in pain.
Workers were recorded
handling fish,
many of whom got tangled in nets
as they suffocated slowly.
Time and again,
fish thrashed desperately,
struggling for air,
only to be left
gasping for life.
In one instance,
a worker was seen
hitting a fish on the head
with his fist. In another,
a fish was grabbed by the tail
and dunked headfirst
into a bucket.
Fish were violently shoved
under the bodies of dead fish.
Others,
after struggling for air
for several minutes,
were sealed in containers,
leaving them in complete
darkness.
The seagulls witnessed
the suffering of salmon,
but they aren't the only victims
of this industry.
Millions of cleaner
fish are exploited every year.
They are used to eat lice off
the salmon.
These cages are breeding grounds
for disease
and parasite outbreaks.
Many cleaner
fish will die on these farms
due to rough waters
and harsh conditions.
This isn't the first time
such extreme animal suffering
has been exposed.
In late 2023, covert
footage revealed live salmon
trapped in a cage and suspended
in the air at a farm
operated by the world's
biggest salmon producer.
The trapped fish were seen
gasping, struggling to survive
but unable to break free
from the metal bars.
In early 2024, Animal Equality
submitted
a formal complaint to the Animal
and Plant Health Agency.
A Freedom of Information
request later
revealed that government
officials met
with representatives of the farm
after receiving the complaint.
Despite the video
evidence and concerns raised
by leading aquaculture experts,
officials claimed
they couldn't confirm whether
the fish were still breathing.
The industry took this
as an opportunity
to reassure officials
that their staff
are trained to humanely kill
sick fish.
However, this latest footage
tells a different story.
We need action, not words.
As consumers, we hold the power.
We can lift the lid on animal
cruelty by changing what we buy
and what we eat.
We can save animals
by ditching fish from our diet.
And, as citizens,
we must demand that policymakers
hold companies accountable
for their actions.
This isn't one
bad farm, one bad worker,
or even one bad company.
This footage suggests
that this widespread animal
suffering is a cultural issue.
Choosing to leave fish off
your plate is a powerful way
to care for your health,
protect the planet,
and show compassion for animals.
Join millions embracing
plant-based living and begin
your Love Veg journey today.