‘It’s like an X-rated horror film’: Welfare probe launched after ‘zombie’ salmon with huge chunks of flesh missing are filmed at UK fish farm

• The disturbing footage was taken at Bakkafrost Scotland’s site on the Isle of Skye

A welfare probe has been launched after ‘zombie’ salmon with huge chunks of flesh missing were filmed at a UK fish farm.

The shocking footage was taken by a lifelong anti-salmon farming activist who described what he saw as something out of ‘an X-rated horror film’ as he embarked on a 48-hour undercover mission at Bakkafrost Scotland’s Portree site on the Isle of Skye.

Don Staniford, who exposed the graphic footage of the wounded salmon, said the images he took were the ‘worst I’ve ever seen’. 

Upon seeing the video, both Highland Council and Scottish Government officials have launched an urgent welfare inquiry. 

Bakkafrost Scotland said that it was aware of the footage but believe the salmon were attacked by seals and a recent RSPA inspection found no issues.

A welfare probe has been launched after ‘zombie’ salmon with huge chunks of flesh missing were filmed at Bakkafrost Scotland’s Portree fish farm on the Isle of Skye

The shocking footage was taken by a lifelong anti-salmon farming activist who described what he saw as something out of ‘an X-rated horror film’ as he embarked on a 48-hour undercover mission

Mr Staniford, who runs the campaign group $camon $cotland, kayaked out to the fish farm in the early hours of the morning on June 28 and 29 this year.

The salmon farm campaigner of 25 years captured the shocking video by lowering a waterproof GoPro camera mounted on a telescopic pole into the cage.

He claims to have seen the fish swimming around with gouges to their flesh. 

Mr Staniford, who has called for ‘immediate action’ to be taken, told The Mirror: ‘The zombie salmon on show inside the salmon farm are like an X-rated horror film. The horrific injuries inside Bakkafrost’s Portree salmon farm were the worst I’ve ever witnessed.

He suspects the salmon were attacked by predators – likely seals – and has slammed the firm for failing to protect the welfare of the fish.

He added: ‘Bakkafrost has either not installed proper anti-predator netting or they have not properly maintained the equipment – either way this is a clear cut case of welfare abuse. 

‘If salmon farms cannot operate securely without breaching welfare legislation then they should be shut down immediately.’

Bakkafrost Scotland was formerly called the Scottish Salmon Company until it officially changed its name last year, three years after being acquired by Faroese firm Bakkafrost.

Don Staniford, who runs the campaign group $camon $cotland, kayaked out to the fish farm in the early hours of the morning on June 28 and 29 this year

He claims to have seen the fish swimming around with gouges to their flesh. Mr Staniford suspects the salmon were attacked by predators – likely seals – and has slammed the firm for failing to protect the welfare of the fish

A spokesperson for the firm told the Mirror that it is ‘committed to the welfare and health of our fish and the natural environment’.

The Bakkafrost Scotland representative acknowledged that it has become aware of the footage and noted that a ‘recent RSPCA inspection at the site did not flag any issues’.

The RSPCA confirmed that it carried out an in-person visit as soon as it was made aware of the claims and was ‘satisfied that the farm was doing everything they could to protect the welfare of both the salmon and any predators’.

The animal welfare organisation told MailOnline: ‘The loss of fish lives, and wounded fish, is deeply upsetting and not something anyone wants to happen.

‘We looked into this as soon as it was reported to us, including carrying out an in-person visit. We are satisfied that the farm was doing everything they could to protect the welfare of both the salmon and any predators, such as seals, by trying to prevent any predators from entering the pen, as required by the RSPCA’s standards.

‘However, it is a sad reality of salmon farming – as it is with predator attacks on terrestrial livestock for example, foxes attacking free-range hens – that from time to time a determined predator may be able to bypass all effort to exclude them and attack the fish.’

Pictured: Workers are seen at the Faroese salmon farming company Bakkafrost in Bakkavegur, near Torshavn, Faroe Islands last year

The RSPCA said an attack like the one in Portree was ‘still one too many’ and reiterated that its sole ambition is to ‘improve the welfare of animals’.

The spokesperson added: ‘We are continually working with all of our members to look at ways to help better protect the welfare of both fish and predators alike. We’re pleased to say that in this situation the farm took the correct course of action and was able to safely release the seal from the pen.’

Highland Council has also received a complaint surrounding the incident and is ‘liaising with our animal health partners in Scottish Government on the investigation’.

The Scottish Government declined the Mirror’s request for comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

MailOnline has approached Bakkafrost Scotland, Highland Council and the Scottish Government for comment.

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