Aquatic

Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture: A Welfare Overview

Atlantic salmon aquaculture is the most economically significant farmed fish sector in Europe, and its welfare challenges have driven substantial research and policy development.

Key Facts

Norway produces over 1 million tonnes of farmed Atlantic salmon annually
Sea lice, amoebic gill disease, and cataracts are among the most significant welfare problems
Stocking density in sea cage culture affects fin damage, aggression, and stress hormone levels
Pre-slaughter stunning using electricity or percussion is increasingly adopted in the sector
Norway has implemented mandatory welfare regulations including a requirement for welfare scoring

Welfare Considerations

Atlantic salmon aquaculture presents a microcosm of the challenges and opportunities in fish welfare. The sector has made measurable progress on slaughter welfare and welfare monitoring, driven by a combination of market pressure, regulatory requirements, and producer investment. Remaining challenges including sea lice management, gill health, and crowding welfare require continued investment in research and practice improvement.

What You Can Do

Choose ASC-certified or RSPCA Assured farmed salmon as a minimum standard
Support retailers with strong farmed salmon welfare commitments in their supply chains
Advocate for sea lice control methods that minimise welfare harm to treated fish
Support research into land-based salmon farming which avoids sea lice exposure
Engage with Norwegian and Scottish aquaculture welfare policy developments