Selective breeding in Atlantic salmon aquaculture has dramatically increased growth rates but also introduced welfare trade-offs that require careful management.
The welfare implications of farmed salmon genetics extend across the entire production cycle. Traits selected for economic performance can conflict with physiological wellbeing, creating fish prone to chronic pain from skeletal malformations, vision impairment from cataracts, and cardiovascular stress from demands that their hearts cannot adequately meet. Responsible aquaculture genetics must include welfare as a breeding objective alongside growth rate and feed conversion. Regulatory frameworks in Norway and Scotland increasingly require welfare impact assessments before introducing new genetic lines. Broader genetic diversity in breeding populations also reduces vulnerability to novel pathogens, supporting both welfare and industry resilience.