Atlantic salmon in aquaculture are highly active, social fish with behavioral needs that are compromised by intensive farming conditions. Welfare improvements are increasingly driven by science and market pressure.
Farmed salmon welfare has attracted more research and market attention than most aquaculture species, partly because salmon are charismatic and familiar, and partly because welfare conditions directly affect product quality. The link between fish welfare and flesh quality — stressed fish with elevated cortisol have poorer texture and shorter shelf life — creates an economic incentive for welfare improvement. Consumer preference for certified welfare-labeled salmon is one of the most direct market signals available in aquaculture. The emergence of land-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) offers a potential alternative to marine net pens with better environmental and welfare control.