Farmed Salmon Omega-3 Feed and Welfare

The feed given to farmed salmon affects their health, welfare, and nutritional profile. The shift from wild fish oil to alternative sources has welfare implications.

Key Facts

Wild Atlantic salmon consume marine invertebrates and small fish rich in EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids
Farmed salmon historically received fish oil (from small pelagic fish like anchovies) providing high omega-3 content
Rising demand and limited fishmeal supply have driven the salmon industry toward vegetable oil substitutes
Vegetable oils (rapeseed, soy) contain omega-3 precursors (ALA) that salmon convert inefficiently to EPA/DHA
Algae-derived omega-3 oils are emerging as sustainable alternatives that maintain fish welfare and consumer benefits
Reduced fish oil in diets affects salmon health - some research links low EPA/DHA with increased sea lice susceptibility and reduced disease resistance
The welfare circle extends to the millions of wild fish (anchovies, herring) harvested for fishmeal, whose welfare is unaddressed

Welfare Considerations

Farmed salmon feed welfare operates at multiple levels. The farmed salmon themselves experience health consequences from dietary changes that reduce omega-3 availability, potentially compromising immune function and disease resistance. The wild pelagic fish (anchovies, herring, sand eels) harvested for fishmeal also have welfare status that is largely unacknowledged - billions of individual fish are caught and processed annually without any welfare standards. Algae-based omega-3 production eliminates the wild fish welfare concern while maintaining farmed salmon nutritional status, making it the most welfare-positive direction for the industry.

What You Can Do

Support salmon aquaculture companies investing in algae-derived omega-3 feeds as a welfare and sustainability improvement
Be aware that omega-3 levels in farmed salmon vary depending on diet - traditional fish oil-fed salmon have higher EPA/DHA
Advocate for fishmeal supply chains to adopt welfare standards for wild-caught pelagic fish
Follow the work of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council on sustainable and welfare-aware feed certification