Aquaculture Welfare

Farmed Salmon Pre-Harvest Crowding Welfare

Pre-harvest crowding of farmed salmon is used to facilitate capture but causes severe welfare impacts through crowding stress, oxygen depletion, and physical injury.

Key Facts

Pre-harvest crowding increases density to enable net-capture of fish
Crowded salmon show elevated cortisol levels and physiological stress responses
Oxygen depletion during crowding can cause hypoxia and pre-slaughter mortality
Physical injury from crowding including scale loss and fin damage is common
Minimising crowding duration and maintaining water oxygen are key welfare measures

Welfare Considerations

Pre-harvest crowding represents an acute welfare insult to salmon at the end of their production cycle. The temporal proximity to slaughter does not reduce the suffering caused - salmon experience the same stress from crowding regardless of when it occurs, creating an obligation to minimise this practice.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture welfare standards that regulate pre-harvest crowding
Learn about the welfare challenges of salmon harvest procedures
Choose salmon with certifications that address pre-harvest handling welfare