Farmed Salmon in Scotland: Welfare and Environmental Challenges

Scottish salmon farming is a significant economic sector facing growing scrutiny over sea lice management, mortality rates, and environmental impacts that reflect underlying welfare challenges.

Key Facts

Scotland produces approximately 200,000 tonnes of farmed Atlantic salmon annually
Scottish salmon farms have reported average annual mortality rates of 20-25% in recent years
Sea lice infestation has intensified as farms expand and treatment resistance develops
A single large Scottish salmon farm may discharge billions of sea lice larvae into adjacent waters
Wild sea trout populations near Scottish salmon farms have declined dramatically, linked to lice pressure

Welfare Considerations

Scottish salmon farming welfare is characterised by high mortality rates that indicate something is fundamentally wrong in the production system. A mortality rate of 20-25% -- meaning one in four or five farmed salmon dies before reaching slaughter weight -- represents an enormous welfare burden even beyond the proportion that die, because the disease and parasite pressures that kill some fish cause chronic suffering in all. Sea lice infestations affect the entire population; treatments stress all fish to eliminate parasites on some. The welfare and environmental problems are symptoms of the same root cause: intensive production in open water net pens without adequate management of disease pressure.

What You Can Do

Support stricter reporting requirements for Scottish salmon farm mortality rates
Ask Scottish salmon retailers about their farm mortality standards and sea lice management
Advocate for closed containment requirements for new Scottish salmon farm development
Choose salmon from land-based RAS farms as an alternative to net pen production