Achieving good welfare in Atlantic salmon production requires integrated management across stocking, feeding, health and slaughter.
Best practice salmon welfare is not achievable through any single intervention but requires attention to welfare throughout the production cycle. Genetic selection for welfare-relevant traits, appropriate stocking density, proactive health management, enriched environments and humane slaughter collectively define the current welfare frontier in salmon farming. The gap between best practice and average practice across the industry is large, representing unrealised welfare potential for millions of fish. Consumer demand for certified salmon creates market incentives for farms to invest in welfare improvements, while regulatory requirements set the floor below which welfare cannot fall.