Farm Animals

Farmed Salmon Enrichment

Environmental enrichment for farmed salmon is an emerging welfare intervention that addresses the impoverished conditions of net pen culture.

Key Facts

Wild salmon occupy structured environments with current, substrate, and shelter
Net pen salmon live in largely featureless round cages with artificial feeding
Light manipulation is used to control reproduction but has welfare implications
Current stimulators and feeding enrichment are being tested in research settings
Enrichment can reduce fin erosion and improve fish welfare indicators

Welfare Considerations

Farmed salmon in typical net pen conditions experience an impoverished environment compared to their wild counterparts. Enrichment research is providing practical tools to improve welfare within existing production systems.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture companies investing in enrichment and welfare research
Choose salmon from farms with transparent welfare commitments and improvement programmes
Advocate for welfare-based standards in salmon aquaculture certification
Engage with aquaculture innovation that addresses fish welfare alongside sustainability
Support research funding for fish enrichment and welfare science