Scottish Atlantic salmon farming faces significant welfare challenges including sea lice burdens, crowding stress, and handling mortality that require ongoing improvement through regulation and innovation.
Farmed Atlantic salmon experience chronic welfare challenges throughout their production cycle. Sea lice cause continuous physical harm and stress. Treatment procedures expose fish to hypoxia, physical trauma, and temperature extremes. High stocking densities limit behavioral expression. Recognizing fish sentience and capacity for suffering is essential for driving meaningful welfare improvements. The Scottish salmon industry faces increasing pressure from regulators, retailers, and welfare organizations to improve standards. Innovation in pen design, selective breeding for disease resistance, and biological control of lice offers genuine welfare improvement pathways.