Aquaculture

Farmed Salmon Climate Adaptation

Rising ocean temperatures are creating new welfare challenges for farmed salmon, including increased parasite loads and harmful algal blooms.

Key Facts

Sea water temperatures above 18C stress Atlantic salmon significantly
Harmful algal blooms can cause mass mortality events in net-pen sites
Climate change is expanding the geographic range of sea lice parasites
Land-based recirculating systems offer better climate control but higher costs

Welfare Considerations

Salmon farming in warming seas means chronic heat stress, increased disease pressure, and exposure to harmful algal toxins are becoming more frequent. The welfare implications of climate change for farmed fish are severe and largely unaddressed in current risk planning.

What You Can Do

Support transition of salmon aquaculture toward land-based systems
Advocate for climate risk planning requirements in aquaculture licensing
Choose salmon from recirculating systems where available
Reduce salmon consumption from open-net marine sites in warming regions