Coho Salmon in Aquaculture: Pacific Species with Specific Welfare Needs

Coho salmon are farmed primarily in Chile and Canada, with welfare profiles that differ from Atlantic salmon. Understanding their specific behavioural and physiological needs is essential for welfare-conscious production.

Key Facts

Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) are farmed at smaller scale than Atlantic salmon — Chile is the primary producer, with some Canadian production.
Coho are more aggressive than Atlantic salmon, particularly at high stocking densities — fin damage and rank-related injuries are significant welfare concerns.
They are less tolerant of elevated temperatures than Atlantic salmon — summer thermal stress is a growing welfare concern with climate change.
Coho salmon farming in Chilean freshwater lakes raised major welfare and environmental concerns about waste management and disease spread.
Pre-slaughter welfare practices for coho in Chile are variable — some facilities use ice slurry without stunning; others have adopted electrical stunning.
Coho are anadromous — they have evolutionary drives toward migration that may create welfare issues in land-locked culture systems.

Welfare Considerations

Coho salmon welfare in Chilean aquaculture has received less international attention than Atlantic salmon welfare in Norway, despite significant production scale and welfare challenges. The species' higher aggression compared to Atlantic salmon means that stocking density management is even more critical for fin health and injury prevention. Thermal stress from warming summer water temperatures in shallow Chilean lake sites creates growing welfare concern. The incomplete adoption of pre-slaughter stunning across Chilean production represents a preventable welfare gap. Consumer and retailer pressure for welfare certification — with coho-specific criteria — is needed to drive the same improvements achieved for Atlantic salmon in higher-regulation markets.

What You Can Do

Ask retailers specifically about coho salmon welfare standards and slaughter methods.
Choose Chilean coho salmon from operations with independent welfare audits and pre-slaughter stunning.
Support extension of Atlantic salmon welfare certification standards to coho and other Pacific salmon species.
Advocate for welfare criteria in trade agreements covering Chilean seafood exports to the EU and US.
Support fish welfare organisations working to extend their coverage to Pacific salmon species and Chilean production.