Wild Salmon Welfare and River Habitat

Wild salmon face extraordinary welfare challenges from climate change, dams, pollution and sea lice from fish farms during their remarkable migratory journeys.

Key Facts

Atlantic salmon populations have declined by over 50% globally in the past 25 years
River temperature increases from climate change are killing salmon during upstream migration
Dams block migration routes and increase water temperatures in impounded sections
Sea lice from fish farms cause significant morbidity and mortality in migrating wild salmon
Pre-spawning mortality — death before completing reproduction — represents a profound welfare and conservation loss

Welfare Considerations

Wild salmon experience significant welfare challenges throughout their life cycle. Upstream migration under thermal stress causes physiological distress and mortality. Sea lice infestation from aquaculture causes open wounds and immune suppression. Dam barriers force fish into lethal impoundments or require costly fish ladder infrastructure. The welfare and conservation arguments for wild salmon habitat protection are completely aligned — improving river conditions, removing obsolete dams, controlling aquaculture impacts and reducing thermal stress all benefit both individual fish welfare and population viability.

What You Can Do

Support organisations working on dam removal and river restoration for salmon
Advocate for aquaculture siting regulations protecting wild salmon migration routes
Donate to Atlantic Salmon Federation and similar wild salmon conservation organisations
Choose farmed salmon from producers with documented low sea lice management