Moving beyond preventing suffering, positive welfare science for farmed salmon asks what good lives look like for fish. Emerging research on salmon positive states offers new directions for welfare improvement.
Positive welfare science for farmed salmon is at an exciting early stage, challenging the assumption that fish welfare is primarily about eliminating suffering. Research is beginning to identify behaviors that may reflect positive emotional states — bold approach to novel objects, vigorous feeding behavior, active exploration of enriched environments. These potential positive welfare indicators require validation but suggest that salmon, like other vertebrates, may have distinct positive and negative emotional states worth both measuring and providing for. Practical applications include enrichment design, stocking density management to allow active swimming, and feeding practices that engage natural foraging behavior. The vision of actively good lives for farmed fish represents a significant expansion of aquaculture welfare ambition.