Aquatic Animal Welfare

Farmed Fish Mortality Monitoring and Welfare

Mortality monitoring in aquaculture provides a key welfare indicator, with dead fish representing the extreme end of welfare failure requiring investigation.

Key Facts

Cumulative mortality rates in salmon aquaculture average 15-20% over a production cycle
Mortality events trigger investigation of water quality, disease and management factors
Real-time mortality monitoring enables rapid response to acute welfare events
Recording causes of mortality improves farm learning and prevention of recurring events
Mortality data transparency through certification schemes enables consumer and retailer welfare assessment

Welfare Considerations

Mortality data is a welfare metric that reflects the most severe end of welfare failure. Systems with high mortality are failing fish welfare repeatedly. Transparent monitoring and reporting of mortality rates and causes enables accountability and drives management improvements.

What You Can Do

Choose certified farmed fish from operations with transparent mortality monitoring and targets
Advocate for mandatory mortality reporting in aquaculture welfare regulations
Support research into causes of aquaculture mortality for targeted prevention