Anti-fish farming groups 'have wasted taxpayers' money'
Industry spokesman slams WildFish and Animal Equality for pursuing appeal with 'no basis in law'
Two anti-salmon farming groups have drawn scathing criticism for wasting taxpayers’ money after they again failed in a legal bid to stop farmed fish being labelled simply as “Scottish salmon”, rather than “Scottish farmed salmon”.
A tribunal has dismissed the appeal brought by WildFish and Animal Equality against the decision taken last year by the UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to allow the change in Scottish farmed salmon’s Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) name.
Tavish Scott, chief executive of trade body Salmon Scotland, said: “Scottish salmon is the UK’s top food export, enjoyed in more than 50 countries worldwide, so we are pleased judges have dismissed spurious legal attempts to overturn the government’s decision to update the protected geographic indication to ‘Scottish salmon’.
WildFish and Animal Equality knew their appeal had no basis in law but dragged the UK government though the courts at taxpayers’ expense anyway
Salmon Scotland chief executive Tavish Scott
“Anti-salmon farming campaign groups WildFish and Animal Equality are shameless in their misguided campaign to ban salmon farming. They knew their appeal had no basis in law but dragged the UK government though the courts at taxpayers’ expense anyway.
“This verdict confirms in no uncertain terms that Atlantic salmon farm-raised in Scotland is called Scottish salmon.”
In a statement on the WildFish website, the group’s Scotland director, Rachel Mulrenan, said the law on PGIs was not drafted with what she called the salmon sector’s attempted “greenwashing” in mind.
“While we were able at the tribunal to get over many of the legal hurdles, sadly we could not clear them all,” added Mulrenan.
'Misleading consumers'
The appeal by WildFish claimed that the PGI name change would likely mislead consumers as to the true origin of the products they are purchasing.
However, Salmon Scotland has pointed out that the sale and consumption of wild Scottish salmon (which is protected by a separate PGI – “Scottish wild salmon”) effectively ended well over a decade ago, so the PGI has been amended to “Scottish salmon” to ensure no imported salmon can use this title.
The trade body also said Scottish salmon exports in 2024 were likely to have broken the record for value. According to official data from HMRC international sales were up 11% to £191 million between June and September, compared to the same period in 2023, taking the nine-month (January-September) total to £622m.
Salmon is also the most popular fish among UK consumers, making up nearly 30% of all fish bought in the UK (nearly 50% of chilled species).
