Atlantic salmon farming has become a welfare policy focus, with advanced research, certification, and operational improvements transforming the industry.
Farmed salmon welfare represents one of the most scientifically advanced welfare fields in aquaculture, driven by the economic importance of the species, strong Norwegian regulatory frameworks, and significant academic research investment. The progress made — from almost no welfare framework to validated operational indicators, mandatory stunning requirements, and active exploration of closed containment — is real and significant. Substantial challenges remain, particularly around sea lice management, the welfare costs of fish handling events, and scaling best practices across the full global industry beyond Norway. The lessons learned in salmon welfare science are being transferred to other species, making salmon a leading case study for aquaculture welfare improvement globally.