Aquaculture

Atlantic Salmon Farming Welfare — Current Standards

Atlantic salmon farming welfare is at a critical juncture with growing evidence of problems and emerging certification standards.

Key Facts

Norway produces 70 percent of global Atlantic salmon in net-pen sea farms
Sea lice, gill disease, and smoltification failure are major welfare problems in current production systems
Mortality rates of 15-20 percent are normal in some Norwegian salmon farming seasons
The Aquaculture Stewardship Council certification includes welfare standards but coverage is limited
Recirculating aquaculture systems can provide better disease control and welfare conditions for salmon

Welfare Considerations

Atlantic salmon farming has reached a welfare crisis point where mortality rates, disease burden, and the invasive procedures used to manage them indicate systemic failure. Meaningful welfare improvement requires investment in smolt quality, lower stocking densities, effective sea lice management, and transition toward land-based systems that allow better welfare control.

What You Can Do

Choose salmon from certified farms with documented welfare standards and low mortality rates
Reduce farmed salmon consumption or switch to sustainably certified wild-caught alternatives
Support research into welfare-positive salmon production systems
Advocate for mandatory welfare monitoring and reporting in salmon aquaculture regulation
Support the development of welfare standards for salmon and other farmed fish species