Hatcheries produce billions of salmon annually for aquaculture and wild stock enhancement, yet welfare standards in these facilities remain inconsistent and under-researched.
Salmon in hatcheries spend critical developmental periods in conditions that may significantly compromise welfare. High stocking densities, repeated handling, poor water quality, and inadequate environmental complexity are common concerns. Cortisol studies demonstrate significant stress responses during routine hatchery operations. Gill health and fin erosion are reliable welfare indicators that frequently show poor scores in conventional hatcheries. The transition to more welfare-conscious hatchery management, including lower densities, improved water flow, and environmental enrichment, is technically feasible and increasingly economically supported by the evidence that stressed fish grow more poorly and have higher mortality rates.