‘Monstrous’ sea lice and jellyfish invasions blighting Scottish salmon farms

‘The intensification of fish farming has created a breeding ground for disease in which salmon suffer appallingly’: Lex Rigby of vegan charity Viva! Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/the Observer

Lochs in the Highlands of Scotland are among the most spectacular and pristine wildlife areas in Britain, attracting tourists from around the world. They are also a production line for what have become supermarket staples: smoked and fresh salmon.

The salmon industry says fish health and welfare are at the heart of successful Scottish salmon farming, but a new investigation by Viva!, the vegan campaigning charity, highlights the parasites and jellyfish blighting intensive fish production.