Following severe weather conditions brought by Storm Amy, Mowi Scotland’s Gorsten fish farm has experienced an escape of approximately 75,000 Atlantic salmon. The escaped fish are understood to be sexually immature, with an average weight of approximately 860 grams. Any escapes of farmed fish are a concern due to the potential for interbreeding with wild fish and the detrimental effect that this has on wild populations.
Mowi Scotland immediately notified the Lochaber District Salmon Fishery Board (DSFB) and continues to work closely with the Board to support ongoing recapture operations. The company has also initiated discussions to fund genetic studies in 2026 to monitor possible introgression and better understand any potential long-term environmental impacts of the incident.
The Lochaber DSFB has mobilised as many anglers as possible across all local rivers in the Upper Linnhe and Sound of Mull area to help assess whether escaped fish have entered freshwater systems. This coordinated effort is critical to determining the scale and potential impact of the escape.
Call for Assistance
Fisheries Management Scotland are asking individuals and organisations in the area who are able to assist with recapture efforts to contact:
Jon Gibb, Clerk to the Lochaber District Salmon Fishery Board, (email: jongibb123@gmail.com)
If you catch any fish that are clearly identifiable as being of farmed origin, please:
- Humanely dispatch the fish, and
- Submit a report via (report farmed fish escapes).