Anti-salmon farming activist Don Staniford on his way to film fish in a pen at a Scottish Sea Farms site at Loch Spelve, Mull, before he gave an undertaking not to visit SSF sites until an interdict hearing takes place. He is now banned permanently from climbing on to pens at 47 Mowi sites.

Mowi vows to continue protecting sites after legal victory over activist  

Gareth Moore editor
Published Modified

Salmon farmer Mowi will continue to protect its employees and property from people who seek to “follow in the footsteps” of banned anti-salmon farming activist Don Staniford, the company has said.

Mowi’s statement follows a decision yesterday by the Court of Session, Scotland’s supreme civil court, that Staniford couldn’t appeal a ruling by the Court of Appeal earlier this year. That ruling maintained most of the stipulations of a September 2023 interdict (injunction) banning Staniford from trespassing on Mowi’s fish pens and ends Staniford’s legal options to have the perpetual interdict lifted. He is also liable for some of Mowi’s legal costs.

Former Mowi Scotland, Ireland, and Canada communications director Ian Roberts managed the legal case on behalf of Mowi Scotland, and still speaks for the company on the issue.

We will continue to protect our employees, fish and properties from any other individuals wishing to follow in the footsteps of Mr Staniford

Ian Roberts

Many incursions

He said: “As a result of the many incursions on to our properties over several years and ignoring our requests not to do so, in 2021 we were forced to seek a permanent interdict (injunction) to protect the wellbeing of our staff and the safety of visitors, invited or not.

“Although it took several years and our request was simple – stay off our licensed, intensely regulated farms and stop intimidating and harassing our employees - we are pleased that the court has now granted a permanent interdict against Don Staniford.”

'Akin to a zealot'

Roberts referred to the judgment of a court case involving Staniford in Canada in 2012, in which the anti-salmon farming campaigner was described as “akin to a zealot”, who will “twist facts to conform to his own personal view” and who “cruelly and publicly mocks people who have a different point of view”.

He added that such an individual “is not welcome at our workplace”.

“We will continue to protect our employees, fish and properties from any other individuals wishing to follow in the footsteps of Mr Staniford,” concluded Roberts.

More interdict requests

Yesterday’s Court of Session ruling is relevant to salmon farmers Scottish Sea Farms and Bakkafrost Scotland, who are both seeking interdicts against Staniford but had suspended legal action because of his appeals. The activist has previously given an undertaking to a court that he will not visit SSF farms until the company’s application for an interdict has been heard.

An application by Bakkafrost Scotland for an interdict was due to be heard in late September but was postponed until December 23 for legal reasons.

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