Land-Based Salmon RAS Welfare: Promise and Challenges of Recirculating Aquaculture

Land-based recirculating aquaculture systems for salmon offer potential welfare improvements over sea cage farming by controlling environment, but present new challenges.

Key Facts

Land-based RAS salmon farming is growing rapidly with major operations in Norway, Denmark, and North America
RAS systems allow complete control of water quality, temperature, and biosecurity
RAS eliminates sea lice exposure and reduces antibiotic use compared to sea cage systems
High stocking densities and monotonous environments in RAS may reduce behavioural diversity
Energy requirements for RAS are substantially higher than sea cage farming

Welfare Considerations

Land-based RAS salmon farming presents a complex welfare picture. By eliminating exposure to sea lice and wild pathogens, RAS creates controlled environments with potential welfare advantages. However, monotonous enclosed environments may reduce salmon behavioural diversity. High stocking densities remain a risk in commercial operations. Water quality management is critical as failures can cause rapid welfare crises. The welfare potential of RAS is significant but depends on design choices around stocking density, environmental complexity, and management practices.

What You Can Do

Support research into welfare optimisation in land-based salmon systems
Choose salmon from facilities with transparent welfare monitoring
Advocate for welfare standards addressing specific RAS environments
Learn about the trade-offs between different salmon farming systems