Green Britain Foundation calls for investigation into salmon industry lobbying practices

The Green Britain Foundation (GBF) has lodged a formal complaint with the Ethical Standards Commissioner, calling for an investigation into potential breaches of lobbying regulations by Salmon Scotland.

The complaint details nine incidents between October 2022 and November 2023 in which Salmon Scotland allegedly failed to properly record lobbying activity in the official register. These incidents include unregistered meetings with MSPs, government officials and regulatory bodies, as well as a reported confrontation between Salmon Scotland CEO Tavish Scott and an MSP.

GBF statement

Dale Vince, founder of the Green Britain Foundation, said:

“We’re talking about an industry that’s already knee-deep in environmental carnage, now apparently trying to dodge the rules that keep our democracy honest.

It’s crucial the Ethical Standards Commissioner digs into this mess. The public has a right to know which vested interests are whispering in our politicians’ ears. If Salmon Scotland’s been playing fast and loose with lobbying laws, what else are they hiding?

This reeks of an industry that thinks it’s above the rules – whether that’s environmental regulations or democratic transparency. It’s time to drag their murky dealings into the light.”

Concerns about transparency

GBF’s complaint raises serious concerns about the transparency of the salmon farming industry’s interactions with policymakers, and the influence such unregistered activities may have on decisions affecting environmental regulation, fish welfare, and rural communities.

The Foundation emphasises that lobbying transparency is vital to protect the integrity of Scotland’s democratic processes and ensure that policymaking remains accountable to the public, not industry interests.

Call for accountability

GBF is calling for a thorough investigation by the Ethical Standards Commissioner to:

• Establish whether lobbying rules have been breached.

• Ensure all lobbying activity by industry bodies is fully recorded and accessible to the public.

• Safeguard the transparency and fairness of environmental policy-making in Scotland.

The Foundation will continue to scrutinise the environmental and political conduct of the salmon farming sector, advocating for stronger oversight and full public disclosure of corporate influence in government decision-making.