Soil Association Drops Scottish Salmon Farms Over Persistent Welfare Failings

The UK’s Soil Association has decided to withdraw its organic certification for Scottish salmon due to ongoing welfare and environmental issues within the salmon farming sector. Following a two-year review, the organization found that the industry's practices failed to meet the high standards expected for organic certification, with CEO Helen Browning highlighting "negligible" progress in the care provided to salmon despite over two decades of efforts.

Animal welfare groups have raised concerns about the industry's oversight, citing a significant number of unexplained fish deaths and insufficient inspections. The organization Project Slingshot has also pointed to serious health and ethical concerns, including the prevalence of diseases, use of harmful chemicals, and poor living conditions for the fish. Despite these criticisms, industry representatives maintain that Scottish organic salmon will continue to be assessed against organic standards, assuring consumers of their product's integrity.