Farmed salmon escaping from open net cages interbreed with wild Atlantic salmon, reducing the genetic fitness of wild populations and creating conservation welfare concerns.
Salmon escapes create a welfare harm that extends beyond individual fish to affect entire wild populations. Wild Atlantic salmon that interbreed with escaped farmed fish produce offspring with reduced survival capacity — a form of genetic welfare harm that reduces the fitness of wild individuals over generations. Wild salmon already facing pressure from climate change, overfishing and habitat loss are further compromised by genetic introgression from farmed populations. The solution — transition to closed containment — is technically available but economically challenging at current scale. Supporting policy that makes escape prevention the economic priority through higher penalties and mandatory closed containment targets directly addresses this welfare pathway.