Wild Salmon Welfare: Ocean and River Threats

Wild Atlantic and Pacific salmon face severe population declines from multiple threats causing individual welfare harm across their complex life cycles.

Key Facts

Atlantic salmon populations have declined by over 70% since the 1970s across most of their range
Pacific salmon populations vary significantly by species and region with some facing critical decline
Sea lice from nearby salmon farms cause welfare harm to wild smolts passing through farming areas
River temperature increases from climate change cause thermal stress and reduced oxygen in spawning streams
Migration barriers including dams prevent access to historic spawning habitat reducing populations and causing individual suffering
Disease transmission between farmed and wild fish is a documented welfare and population concern
Bycatch of salmon in non-target fisheries kills individuals before they can complete their migration
Catch-and-release fishing can cause physiological stress and post-release mortality in stressed fish

Welfare Considerations

Wild salmon welfare encompasses the suffering of individuals across their entire complex life cycle. Sea lice infestation of juvenile smolts causes skin lesions, osmotic disruption, and behavioral changes. Thermal stress in warming rivers causes physiological distress during spawning migrations. Dam passage involves injury and exhaustion that affects post-migration reproductive success. The cumulative welfare burden across a wild salmon's life from ocean to spawning river reflects the multiple stressors imposed by human activities on a species with a biologically demanding life history. Reducing these stressors through sea lice management, dam removal, and temperature management provides both welfare and population benefits.

What You Can Do

Support dam removal projects that restore salmon spawning habitat access
Advocate for sea lice management requirements that protect wild salmon smolts from farm-origin lice
Practice welfare-conscious catch-and-release including barbless hooks, minimal handling, and rapid release
Support river temperature monitoring and riparian shade restoration to reduce thermal stress in salmon rivers
Choose sustainably certified salmon from responsibly managed fisheries
Donate to wild salmon conservation organizations working on the multiple threats facing wild populations