Atlantic and Pacific salmon hatcheries raise millions of juveniles annually for aquaculture and conservation stocking, and welfare refinements during early rearing improve survival and behavioral competence.
Hatchery welfare has historically been viewed purely through a production lens - maximizing survival and growth to stocking or commercial size. Welfare science is shifting this perspective: fish in enriched, lower-density hatchery environments are not just better producers but genuinely experience better lives during their time in the hatchery. For conservation stocking programs, enriched rearing also produces fish with better post-release survival, aligning welfare and conservation goals.