Stocking density significantly affects Atlantic salmon welfare. Understanding how crowding causes chronic stress and the standards that address it helps advocates push for improvement.
Salmon stocking density represents a welfare trade-off that is well understood scientifically but inadequately addressed in practice. High density maximizes production efficiency but causes chronic stress through crowding, reduces water quality, increases disease transmission, and elevates aggressive interactions. The welfare case for density reduction is supported by clear physiological and behavioral evidence. Regulatory density limits exist in some jurisdictions but are often set above welfare-optimal thresholds. Certification schemes that set lower density limits than legal minimums provide a market lever for welfare improvement. Consumers who choose lower-density certified products support the market development for higher-welfare salmon production.