Farmed Atlantic salmon are the UK's most consumed farmed fish. Their welfare is compromised by sea lice infestations, high stocking densities, and inadequate pre-slaughter stunning.
Farmed salmon welfare is compromised across the production cycle. Sea lice, which proliferate in dense farm conditions, cause pain and increased disease susceptibility. Mechanical treatment methods (including high-pressure water jets) reduce lice but cause acute stress. High stocking densities restrict normal swimming and increase aggression. Pre-slaughter: inadequate stunning before killing means some fish die in distress. Certification schemes like RSPCA Assured require higher welfare standards for all these aspects. The welfare of farmed salmon is now taken seriously by some producers but major gaps remain.