Farmed Atlantic Salmon: A Comprehensive Welfare Review

An evidence-based assessment of the major welfare challenges facing the 2.5 million tonnes of Atlantic salmon produced annually in aquaculture.

Key Facts

Norway alone produces 1.4 million tonnes of farmed Atlantic salmon annually
Sea lice infestations affect over half of global salmon farms at some point
Crowding densities in sea cages can reach 20-25 kg per cubic meter
Stunning before slaughter is required in Norway and some other countries
Welfare scoring systems like SalmoWell assess multiple welfare indicators across the production cycle

Welfare Considerations

Farmed Atlantic salmon face welfare challenges throughout their lives. Sea lice cause tissue damage and behavioral changes consistent with pain. High stocking densities cause fin damage and social stress. Handling during sea lice treatment (including thermal treatments at 34 degrees Celsius) causes significant acute stress. Pre-slaughter crowding and transport cause further stress. Yet salmon are also highly productive food animals where welfare improvements are increasingly tracked and where consumer and regulatory pressure has driven real change.

What You Can Do

Choose salmon from welfare-certified farms with documented lice management
Ask your supermarket about the welfare standards of their salmon suppliers
Support research into sea lice prevention through genetics and biological control
Advocate for mandatory welfare scoring for farmed salmon
Consider the welfare and environmental costs when choosing between farmed and wild salmon