Atlantic Salmon Welfare and Environmental Enrichment in Aquaculture

Atlantic salmon in sea cage aquaculture have few opportunities for natural behaviour including territorial exploration, migration, and complex habitat use. Environmental enrichment research is exploring ways to improve welfare in commercial cage systems.

Key Facts

Atlantic salmon in sea cages show significantly reduced behavioural diversity compared to wild fish
Underwater lighting is used commercially to control reproduction but also affects fish behaviour and welfare
Current and flow variation within cages allows salmon to engage in natural rheotaxis behaviour
Cage complexity including submerged structures can reduce aggressive interactions
RSPCA Assured salmon standards include requirements for water quality and stocking density but limited enrichment requirements

Welfare Considerations

Salmon in uniform circular sea cages cannot engage in territorial behaviour, explore varied microhabitats, or experience the sensory diversity of wild environments. Uniform conditions may contribute to chronic stress and reduced immune function. Research into cage enrichment including current variation, visual complexity, and feeding enrichment is at an early stage but shows promise for reducing stress indicators. Welfare science for salmon is significantly less developed than for terrestrial farm animals.

What You Can Do

Support Aquatic Life Institute research and campaigns for salmon welfare standards
Choose RSPCA Assured salmon that meets published welfare standards
Advocate for Scottish and Norwegian government requirements for salmon welfare indicators
Donate to research into salmon enrichment and welfare assessment at institutes including Stirling
Engage with major salmon retailers about welfare standards in their supply chains