Big Aquaculture is following the same model of environmental degradation, worker exploitation, and consumer deception as the land-based corporate animal agriculture system. The complaint in this action alleges that behind the cutesy family of bears and claims of being “Sustainably Farm-Raised” and “responsibly sourced” on the packaging, the Mama Bear salmon brand hides the truth from concerned shoppers.
The complaint also alleges the following: Mama Bear salmon all comes from Australis, a major corporate aquaculture player in Chile with a track record of degrading designated nature reserves and endangering local ecosystems through overproduction and toxic pharmaceutical pollution. On top of that, the industrial net pen operations from which Mama Bear products are sourced threaten worker safety, with at least two worker deaths at Australis facilities in the last year.
Responsible, independent fishers can’t compete when salmon corporations unfairly claim the mantle of sustainability. FarmSTAND, along with Pearson Warshaw, LLP and Jennings & Earley PLLC, have brought this putative class action suit to stop Mama Bear’s alleged deceptive marketing.