Farmed Coho Salmon Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Coho salmon are farmed in land-based and net-pen systems in North America and Chile. Their welfare needs share features with Atlantic salmon but include some distinct management considerations.

Key Facts

Coho salmon farming is concentrated in Chile, Canada, and the US Pacific Northwest
They are anadromous — naturally adapted for freshwater-to-ocean transitions that farming must manage carefully
Coho are more aggressive than Atlantic salmon at similar stocking densities, increasing injury rates
Land-based RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture Systems) are expanding for coho, offering welfare advantages over net pens
Smoltification (the freshwater-to-saltwater transition) is a stress-sensitive developmental period requiring careful management
Sea lice are less problematic for coho than Atlantic salmon due to shorter marine residency

Welfare Considerations

Coho welfare management requires attention to their greater aggression at high density — fin damage and skin injuries are more common than in Atlantic salmon at equivalent stocking rates. Smoltification management is a critical welfare window: the physiological transition is stressful and requires precise management of light cycles and water temperature to prevent physiological compromise. RAS systems that allow environmental control provide welfare advantages but introduce new risks from system failures causing acute oxygen depletion. Slaughter welfare has improved through adoption of percussive stunning in many Canadian and US operations.

What You Can Do

Choose coho from certified RAS or net-pen operations with documented welfare standards
Advocate for coho-specific stocking density standards that account for their higher aggression
Support research into optimal smoltification management protocols that minimize transition stress
Ask seafood retailers about slaughter standards for their Pacific salmon supply chains