Aquatic Animals

Farmed Salmon Welfare

Atlantic salmon farming involves high-density conditions, sea lice infestations, and slaughter practices that cause significant welfare concerns.

Key Facts

Norway produces over 1.5 million tonnes of farmed salmon annually
Sea lice infestations are endemic in salmon farms and cause painful skin damage
Crowding density in farms can exceed 15kg per cubic meter
Fish can experience stress-induced immunosuppression at high densities
Slaughter methods are improving but remain inconsistent across farms

Welfare Considerations

Farmed salmon suffer from sea lice that consume skin, fins, and mucus, causing open wounds that become infected. Chemical and biological treatments for sea lice add further stress. High-density crowding causes chronic stress, fin damage, and increased aggression. Studies measuring cortisol, behavior, and brain states provide growing evidence that farmed salmon experience significant suffering throughout their production cycle.

What You Can Do

Reduce or eliminate salmon consumption given welfare concerns
Choose certified higher-welfare salmon from farms with lower lice rates
Support Fish Welfare Initiative and salmon welfare research
Advocate for mandatory welfare monitoring in salmon aquaculture licensing