Atlantic salmon farming is one of the world most intensive forms of animal production, raising serious welfare concerns at every stage from hatchery to harvest.
Salmon are sentient vertebrates with demonstrated pain responses and stress physiology equivalent to other fish. The welfare challenges they face in commercial aquaculture are significant: chronic parasite burden, crowding stress, handling during treatment, and slaughter methods that may not always achieve rapid unconsciousness. Progress is being made — Norwegian standards have improved, and RSPCA Assured certification requires stunning — but the industry still has substantial distance to travel on welfare. Consumer preference for certified product is the main market lever available.