King Charles Strips Scottish Salmon Supplier Of Royal Warrant Amid Animal Welfare Scandal

King Charles III has revoked the Royal Warrant of Mowi, the Norwegian aquaculture giant and long-standing Scottish salmon supplier, following allegations of serious animal welfare breaches. The decisive move comes in the wake of undercover footage showing staff at a Mowi fish farm on the Isle of Skye beating salmon and leaving them to suffocate after removal from water, sparking public outcry and scrutiny of the company’s operations.

Mowi, which has provided fresh salmon to the Royal Household since 1990 and last had its Royal Warrant confirmed in December, is notably absent from the latest list of warrant holders. This change follows a wave of condemnation after video evidence published in May led to major UK supermarkets removing Mowi products from their shelves, and the RSPCA temporarily suspending the business from its animal welfare scheme. The company has stated it was cooperating fully with investigations and maintained that the methods shown were standard in the industry under those circumstances.

Repercussions for Mowi extend beyond reputational harm. The company, which operates globally and produced 475000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon in 2023, has come under renewed criticism from environmentalists and members of the angling community. Andy Ford, a veteran salmon fisherman and television presenter, commented that large salmon farmers have long sold the public on an idealised version of fish farming, while practices tell a different story. He praised King Charles for recognising the reality behind some aspects of the industry and acting upon it.

The monarchy’s decision carries particular weight against the backdrop of declining wild salmon populations in Britain, as King Charles serves as the patron of the Atlantic Salmon Trust. Conservationists and scientists have raised the alarm over interbreeding between escaped farmed and wild salmon, which threatens the genetic viability of native stocks. The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust estimates that 80 percent of wild Atlantic salmon have vanished from British rivers in four decades, posing a dire threat to the species if current trends continue.

Don Staniford, director of Salmon Watch Scotland, called the loss of the Royal Warrant after thirty-five years “long overdue”, arguing it underscores escalating concerns about salmon farming practices across the UK and beyond. Despite the setback, Mowi affirmed pride in its product and long association with the Royal Household but declined to comment on the specifics of the Royal decision. The broader industry will likely watch closely to see if the Royal Household’s move marks a turning point for higher standards and transparency in aquaculture.