Crowding stress is a chronic welfare challenge in salmon farming, and understanding how density affects salmon behavior informs better production standards.
Salmon crowding stress creates chronic welfare compromise for millions of fish across the production lifecycle. High density limits natural swimming behavior, creates chronic social competition, reduces feeding efficiency for subordinate fish, and impairs immune function increasing disease susceptibility. The welfare science clearly supports lower stocking densities, but economic pressure from cage leasing costs drives producers toward maximum densities. Certification scheme stocking limits and consumer demand for certified lower-density products create market incentives for welfare improvement. Monitoring behavioral indicators including swimming patterns and feeding response provides on-farm welfare assessment tools.