Mowi Scotland is set to become the first company in Scotland to brand its aquaculture feedpipes in a move designed to improve the identification of marine debris and support faster clean-up efforts along the country’s coastline.
The initiative aims to make feedpipes instantly recognisable if they are found washed ashore, helping determine whether debris originated from Mowi’s operations or elsewhere.
“We want to be a responsible neighbour, and while we don’t plan on losing any feedpipes or equipment, during storms it can unfortunately happen,” said Ben Hadfield, chief operating officer – Farming at Mowi Scotland.
“Having a clear way to identify marine waste means straight away we know where it came from and can ensure it is cleared quickly. However, even if marine debris has not come from one of our farms, we will still be clearing waste nearby, as well as carrying out proactive beach cleans and providing data to the Marine Conservation Society.
“In 2025, our teams across Scotland carried out 57 beach cleans, and now they have been busy branding the feedpipes – something that involves a significant investment in time, so I’d like to thank everyone involved.”
Under existing industry procedures, members of the public who discover aquaculture-related waste can report its location to Salmon Scotland using What3Words. The nearest salmon farm is then responsible for removing the debris, regardless of its origin.
The idea to brand feedpipes was proposed by Ullapool Sea Savers, a youth group dedicated to protecting the local marine environment while promoting awareness of the sea around the Highland community.
Mowi said all existing feedpipes are now being marked with the company logo using an in-house designed branding device, while all future feedpipe purchases will also carry permanent identification, helping improve environmental accountability across Scotland’s coastline.
