Atlantic Salmon Welfare Advances in 2025

Atlantic salmon aquaculture continues to face significant welfare challenges in 2025, but advances in sea lice management, slaughter technology, and operational welfare indicators represent meaningful progress.

Key Facts

Atlantic salmon aquaculture produces approximately 2.8 million tonnes annually, primarily in Norway, Chile, and the UK
Sea lice remain the most significant welfare challenge; resistant strains complicate management
Hydrolicer and other mechanical delousing methods reduce chemical use but cause significant handling stress
Thermal pre-slaughter stunning is now widely adopted in Norwegian and Scottish slaughter facilities
The Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation has committed to monitoring operational welfare indicators across member farms

Welfare Considerations

Atlantic salmon welfare in 2025 reflects ongoing tension between production demands and evidence-based welfare requirements. Sea lice management continues to require repeated handling events that cause acute stress and physical injury. Mechanical delousing, while preferable to chemical treatments, involves intense crowding and water jet exposure that causes significant welfare harm. Progress on slaughter welfare through thermal stunning represents genuine improvement, as does the adoption of operational welfare indicator monitoring. The welfare of farmed salmon is influenced by purchasing decisions that create market pressure for welfare improvements.

What You Can Do

Choose Scottish and Norwegian salmon certified to welfare schemes with sea lice monitoring requirements
Support certification schemes that mandate operational welfare indicators beyond mortality metrics
Advocate for regulatory requirements for pre-slaughter stunning in all salmon producing regions
Engage with retailers about their salmon sourcing policies and welfare expectations of suppliers