On Saturday 14th October, from 11.00am until 12 noon, Salmon Farm Protest Group supporters will be distributing leaflets outside supermarkets in 50 UK cities and towns, including London, Kingston-on-Thames Bognor Regis, Bristol, Abergavenny, Newtonabbey, Edinburgh, Cumbernauld, Aberdeen Perth, Aviemore, Dingwall, Wick and Thurso and Patrea.
The message to consumers is: ‘GO WILD FOR REAL SALMON – SAY ‘NO’ TO FARMED FISH. The leaflet lists ten reasons to think twice before buying factory-farmed salmon; including PCB and dioxin levels in both organic and standard farm salmon, untreated fish farm sewage excreted into coastal waters, the damage salmon farming is doing to wild fish.
“You have to ask yourself what is more valuable, cheap fatty salmon or the long-term health of the sea?” Richard Girling, writer and journalist
“The barrage of bad publicity that has engulfed the Scottish aquaculture industry over the last few years has not halted dishonest marketing and publicity campaigns. The Action Hour campaign will, I hope, go some way to redressing the balance in favour of wild salmon, the king of fish, and its natural habitat.†Donald Rice, riparian owner
“The impact of salmon farming on the environment and on wild populations of sea trout and salmon is completely unacceptable. This poorly-regulated industry makes huge profits for big foreign companies at the expense of local communities throughout Scotland which rely heavily on revenue from anglers.†Mark Lloyd, Anglers Conservation Association
“We no longer sell any form of farmed salmon in our restaurant or bar. We have noticed that most of our guests appreciate the quality and better taste of real salmon and we have never heard anyone complain that it is more expensive. If we cannot source wild salmon we do without.†Elaine Lewis, Ben Loyal Hotel, Tongue
“It takes three tonnes of wild fish from the high seas to produce the fishmeal to make one tonne of factory farmed salmon for the supermarket. Do you think that makes sense for our environment? If not, then stop buying the stuff.†Jon Gibb, Fishery Manager, Scotland
“It’s fluorescent, flabby and full of fat and nasty chemicals, damaging the environment and helping bring wild species to the brink of extinction. Give your taste buds and wild fish a chance – don’t eat it.†Adrian Latimer, angler and author.
SFPG chairman Bruce Sandison said, “Ask your supermarket for wild Alaskan salmon. It tastes wonderful, has no artificial colourants and comes from a sustainable fishery certified by the Marine Conservation Society, a UK charity dedicated to protecting the marine environment and its wildlife.â€
