Aquatic Animal Welfare

Salmon Aquaculture Water Temperature Welfare

Rising water temperatures in salmon aquaculture sites create welfare challenges through reduced oxygen solubility, increased disease risk and thermal stress.

Key Facts

Atlantic salmon are cold-water species with optimal growth at 12-14 degrees Celsius
Temperatures above 18 degrees Celsius cause thermal stress and increased mortality risk
Warming fjord temperatures are increasing welfare incidents at exposed Norwegian sites
Deep water intake systems provide access to cooler water in thermally stratified fjords
Climate projections suggest increasing frequency of lethal temperature events in salmon sites

Welfare Considerations

Thermal stress from rising sea temperatures creates growing welfare challenges in open-sea salmon aquaculture. Climate change makes thermally exposed sites increasingly unsuitable. Investment in site selection, deep water intake and land-based or sheltered systems provides long-term welfare protection.

What You Can Do

Support salmon aquaculture in land-based RAS systems that can control temperature
Choose climate-resilient salmon sourcing from certified operations
Advocate for climate change adaptation requirements in aquaculture licensing