Net cage design affects fish welfare through impacts on current flow, predator exposure, lice distribution, and the structural integrity that prevents escapes and entanglement injuries.
Net cage design is a welfare determinant that combines multiple pathways: oxygen distribution through water flow, social pressure management through adequate volume, predator stress through barrier integrity, and physical safety through structural soundness. Investment in high-quality cage design and maintenance provides welfare benefits across all these dimensions simultaneously. As sea cage technology advances, welfare-focused design improvements are increasingly incorporated into commercial systems alongside the structural and production benefits.