Aquaculture

Animal Welfare in Aquaculture: Salmon Farming

Salmon aquaculture is the worlds fastest-growing food production sector, raising profound welfare questions about the conditions experienced by billions of farmed fish annually.

Key Facts

Over 70 million tonnes of farmed fish are produced annually worldwide
Atlantic salmon in aquaculture show high rates of sea lice infestation and treatment stress
Crowding in net pens causes chronic stress, fin damage, and aberrant aggressive behaviors
Norway and the UK have implemented welfare indicators for farmed salmon
Slaughter methods for farmed fish vary greatly in humaneness with percussive stunning being the gold standard

Welfare Considerations

Farmed salmon experience chronic stress from crowding, parasite infestations, repeated handling, and suboptimal water quality. The scale of salmon aquaculture means that even small per-animal welfare improvements represent enormous reductions in aggregate suffering. Progress in welfare standards for farmed fish is accelerating as the sector responds to regulatory pressure and consumer concern.

What You Can Do

Choose salmon certified to higher welfare standards when purchasing
Reduce farmed salmon consumption or substitute with more sustainable seafood options
Support regulatory frameworks that require minimum welfare standards for farmed fish
Advocate for improved slaughter methods across the aquaculture industry
Follow organizations researching and advocating for fish welfare improvements