Scottish salmon farmers unexpectedly recorded more than 35 million salmon deaths in just three years, but there were only two surprise inspections of facilities in the same period.
In December, Mairie Goggin, the Scottish Government’s rural affairs secretary, said, “A really strong regulatory regime when it comes to fin-fish aquaculture” but animal welfare campaigners say the statistics call that claim into question.
According to a freedom of information request by Animal Equality UK, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), which is responsible for enforcing welfare laws, inspected only 21 of 213 active salmon farms in Scotland between January 2023 and October 2025. Checked.
Additionally, the Scottish Government website says: Unannounced inspections are a “legal requirement” But only two happened between January 2023 and September 2025, both in 2024.
Abigail Penny, executive director of Animal Equality UK, said: “There needs to be a complete overhaul of the regulatory system. This low level of scrutiny is troubling. How can the Cabinet Secretary claim that regulation is strong when the checks and sanctions are virtually non-existent? It makes the industry protect the animals it protects.”
Between January 2023 and October 2025, 35,867,788 salmon deaths were officially reported on Scottish farms. According to Animal Equality, the true number of fish killed, killed in transit, perished in the first six weeks at sea, or so-called, is much higher.Cleaner fish” are excluded from figures. Estimates suggest At least 7m is a cleaner fish, which is a peck off Lice Since 2020 caged salmon have been infected on Scottish salmon farms.
APHA has received 22 complaints of fish welfare abuse since 2022, but has not issued a formal warning, care notice or referred the case to the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service. Of the 20 complaints investigated, 12 resulted in action and implementation, which were limited to verbal or written advice and follow-up visits.
APHA refused to disclose the inspection report forms to Animal Equality because their release “could cause significant damage to companies, adversely affect their ability to conduct business, maintain their reputation and protect their business”.
The Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee will question salmon farming executives on the 25th. As part of the ongoing investigation, Feb. Committee in January last year Criticized the government For its “slow progress” in regulating the salmon farming industry.
An APHA spokeswoman said: “We take all suspected cases of unwellness on salmon farms seriously and all are assessed by our vets. We work with local authorities and the Fish Health Inspectorate to run each case through our standard procedure and assessment process.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Fish Health Inspectorate undertakes approximately 250 statutory finfish site inspections per year as part of surveillance for listed diseases. These can be pre-arranged, carried out at short notice or unannounced in response to intelligence-based reports.
“Inspectors are trained and experienced in identifying systemic problems related to fish health and biosecurity. Suspected cases of poor welfare are referred to APHA, which is responsible for considering potential violations of welfare legislation.”
A spokesman for Salmon Scotland said its farmers work to some of the highest health, welfare and environmental standards in the world and activists often “present a misleading picture” of what goes on on farms.
“More than £1bn has been invested in innovation, veterinary care, technology and stock management to continuously improve welfare,” their spokesperson said.
