Atlantic salmon in net pens have few behavioral choices or environmental features. Enrichment research is identifying low-cost interventions that significantly improve salmon welfare.
Salmon enrichment represents an emerging welfare frontier within aquaculture: applying behavioral ecology knowledge to improve the quality of captive environments for fish. The behavioral needs of salmon — activity, environmental complexity, social spacing, and sensory stimulation — can be partially addressed within the constraints of commercial net pen production. Current flow management that provides swimming exercise without exhaustion engages natural rheotaxis and reduces stereotypic circling behavior. Distributing feed across wider areas reduces competition and allows more fish to feed without contest. Structural complexity through submerged features allows behavioral choice about depth and social positioning. These interventions are relatively low-cost compared to their welfare benefit, making enrichment a practical welfare improvement opportunity that does not require system redesign.