Campaign group Scottish Salmon Watch has said that Inverawe Smokehouses should also lose the royal title, given their “use of tonnes and tonnes” of Mowi fish.
Inverawe Smokehouses, based in Argyll, is listed on the royal warrants office as a supplier of smoked foods and hampers. Its biography states that it produces “award-winning products for the gourmet palate”.
READ MORE: Firm accused of misleading logo over ‘Scottish fish caught in England’
Officially, Inverawe Smokehouses Ltd was dissolved in 2018, and the brand is now being operated by Lorne Fisheries Ltd, according to the industry outlet SalmonBusiness.
Lorne Fisheries Ltd is in administration, and filings with Companies House show it owes Mowi Scotland £130,190 out of around £610,000 in total debt.
Last month, King Charles removed Mowi’s royal warrant after 35 years following a video allegedly showing animal cruelty at one of their farms.
Scottish Salmon Watch director Don Staniford said the £130,000 debt showed Inverawe Smokehouses were using Mowi salmon, and called for the King to revoke their royal warrant.
“In revoking the royal warrant for Mowi, King Charles must now remove the royal patronage from Inverawe Smokehouses who source tonnes and tonnes of Mowi salmon,” he said.
“Inverawe Smokehouses is shamelessly exploiting the iconic image of the ‘King of Fish’ as a wild and natural product when it is factory farmed in lousy cages.
“Mowi’s salmon – whether it is farmed in Scotland, Norway, the Faroes or Iceland – is a royal imposter.”
Mowi is Scotland’s largest salmon producer by volume
He went on: “Norwegian-owned Mowi has a lousy track record with mass escapes, mortalities, infectious diseases and the use of toxic chemicals.
“Mowi’s farmed salmon is not fit for the King or the Queen – not even the royal corgis – and is a welfare nightmare and environmental pariah.
“Thanks to King Charles for taking the lead and removing Mowi salmon from the royal table – it’s now time to take all farmed salmon off the table. Cruelty has no crown.”
Inverawe Smokehouses did not respond to a request for comment.
The royal warrants office has also been approached.