Aquaculture Welfare

Farmed Salmon Welfare Certification Standards

Third-party welfare certification for farmed Atlantic salmon is developing rapidly, but standards vary widely in rigor and outcomes measures.

Key Facts

The Global Salmon Initiative and ASC represent mainstream certification
Higher welfare certifications like RSPCA Assured and Global GAP focus more on outcomes
Key welfare indicators include mortality rates, sea lice counts, and injury scores
Certification drives welfare improvements through market access requirements

Welfare Considerations

Welfare certification creates a framework for continuous improvement in salmon farming practices. However, certifications that rely primarily on input measures rather than welfare outcomes can certify operations that still produce significant animal suffering. Outcome-based measures including fish behavior, physiological stress indicators, and injury frequency provide more meaningful welfare assurance and drive genuine improvements.

What You Can Do

Choose salmon certified to rigorous outcome-based welfare standards
Support development of welfare scoring systems for farmed fish
Advocate for mandatory welfare reporting in salmon aquaculture
Reduce salmon consumption given ongoing welfare challenges in the industry