Royal warrant stripped as Mowi faces animal welfare and environmental outrage

The world’s largest salmon producer, Mowi, has been stripped of its Royal Warrant after a storm of public and environmental criticism surrounding alleged animal cruelty and repeated fish escapes in Scottish waters. The decision marks the end of a 35-year association between the Norwegian seafood giant and the Royal Household, reflecting growing scrutiny of aquaculture practices and their environmental impact.

Allegations of cruelty and systemic failures

The controversy erupted following the release of undercover footage by the Green Britain Foundation, an environmental charity led by Dale Vince. The video, filmed at Mowi’s Loch Harport farm on the Isle of Skye, appeared to show staff beating salmon and leaving them to suffocate out of water — behaviour that directly breaches RSPCA welfare standards .

The RSPCA described the scenes as “extremely upsetting” and swiftly suspended the farm’s Assured status. Supermarkets also removed Mowi products from their shelves. The footage prompted an industry-wide outcry, with campaigners describing the events as evidence of “systemic cruelty” and a “culture of disregard” for animal welfare.

Mowi maintains that its employees were using “the most effective and humane method” under the circumstances, claiming that percussive stunning remains the approved means of dispatching fish. The company said it is cooperating fully with the ongoing RSPCA investigation and has pledged to refresh welfare training across its Scottish operations.

Environmental concerns and mass escapes

Adding to the reputational blow, Mowi’s operations have faced increasing criticism over recurring fish escapes. In the wake of Storm Amy, more than 75,000 salmon reportedly escaped from its Loch Linnhe site, bringing the total number of escaped fish from Mowi’s Scottish farms to over half a million since 2000.

Environmental campaigners, including Feargal Sharkey and Chris Packham, have warned that such escapes pose a “catastrophic” risk to wild salmon through genetic dilution and disease transmission. Sharkey praised King Charles III for “standing up for his morals”, calling the revocation of Mowi’s warrant “a victory for decency and accountability”. Packham described the move as “a wake-up call” for an industry he believes has long ignored its environmental responsibilities.

Industry and regulatory implications

The decision to revoke Mowi’s Royal Warrant carries significant implications across the foodservice and hospitality sectors, where the company has supplied premium salmon for decades. For businesses reliant on Mowi’s products — from restaurants to fish and chip suppliers — the news raises fresh questions about sourcing standards, sustainability claims, and consumer trust.

Regulators are expected to tighten oversight of aquaculture operations, with the Scottish Government considering new penalties for fish escapes and welfare breaches. Highland councillors are reportedly pressing ministers to accelerate enforcement reforms.

Environmentalists are urging certification bodies such as the RSPCA and Soil Association to revoke all remaining endorsements of Mowi’s farms, describing current schemes as “greenwashing”. Vince, whose charity published the incriminating footage, said, “A firm with a history of pollution and animal abuse has no place holding a royal seal of approval. This decision puts ethics ahead of PR — and it’s long overdue.” 

A turning point for salmon farming

The scandal has cast a shadow over the image of farmed salmon, once marketed as a sustainable alternative to wild catch. Conservationists note that wild Atlantic salmon populations have already declined by 80% over the past four decades, and interbreeding with escaped farm fish is compounding the crisis.

King Charles III, a lifelong environmental advocate and patron of the Atlantic Salmon Trust, has previously voiced opposition to open-cage salmon farming. His decision to withdraw royal patronage from Mowi underscores a broader shift towards accountability in the aquaculture sector — one that hospitality and retail industries will be compelled to respond to.

As one campaigner observed, “The King’s message is clear — ethical sourcing isn’t optional anymore.”