Aquaculture Welfare

Farmed Salmon: Acoustic Stress and Noise Pollution

Salmon farming infrastructure generates chronic noise exposure from boat engines, underwater machinery and feeding systems, with emerging evidence this causes welfare harm.

Key Facts

Atlantic salmon have well-developed hearing and detect vibrations through their lateral line
Equipment such as feeding air compressors and boat engines generate sustained noise in sea cages
Studies show that noise exposure elevates cortisol and causes increased startle responses in fish
Wild fish migrate away from noise sources; farmed fish have no such option in cages
Research into acceptable noise exposure limits for salmonids is at an early stage

Welfare Considerations

Chronic noise exposure is an environmental stressor that compounds other welfare challenges in salmon farming. Unlike wild salmon that can avoid acoustic disturbance, cage-held fish are continuously exposed. Welfare-conscious farm design considers noise reduction through equipment choice, orientation and operational timing. This is an emerging area of aquaculture welfare science requiring further research.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture welfare research into acoustic stress in farmed fish
Choose salmon with welfare certification that includes environmental quality standards
Advocate for inclusion of acoustic environment assessment in aquaculture regulation
Learn about fish sensory biology and how they perceive their underwater environment