Aquaculture

Aquaculture Net Pen Environmental Welfare

Open net pen aquaculture raises welfare concerns from sea lice, disease, escapes, and the welfare of wild fish species living near farms. Environmental conditions affect farmed fish welfare.

Key Facts

Net pen salmon farms can harbor sea lice populations that spread to migrating wild salmon
Escapes of farmed salmon are estimated in the millions annually and threaten wild salmon genetics
Net pen location selection affects water current, temperature, and oxygen levels that determine fish welfare
Environmental welfare certification includes both fish welfare and ecosystem impact assessments

Welfare Considerations

Net pen aquaculture welfare encompasses the farmed fish themselves and the environmental conditions that affect their welfare. Poor water quality, disease pressure, and sea lice burdens all reflect inadequate site selection or management. Moving toward closed containment systems eliminates most environmental welfare concerns while also protecting wild salmon populations from disease and genetic dilution.

What You Can Do

Support transition to closed containment aquaculture that eliminates escape and sea lice welfare problems
Choose salmon from producers certified for both fish welfare and environmental performance
Advocate for stricter siting requirements for new net pen operations to protect wild fish populations
Support research into environmental conditions that optimize farmed fish welfare in net pen systems