Farmed Salmon Welfare: Broodstock Management

Broodstock management in salmon aquaculture involves holding fish for extended periods for spawning, creating specific welfare considerations around handling, holding conditions and stripping.

Key Facts

Broodstock salmon are held for 1-3 years before stripping for eggs and sperm
The stripping procedure involves capture, anaesthesia, manual egg/sperm expression and return or slaughter
Broodstock holding conditions including space, water quality and diet significantly affect welfare
Fish welfare during the stripping procedure is improved by anaesthesia but stress responses still occur
Broodstock welfare directly affects egg quality and therefore the welfare of offspring throughout production

Welfare Considerations

Broodstock welfare is a welfare issue with both direct and cascade effects. Poor broodstock welfare through inadequate holding conditions or stressful stripping procedures causes direct suffering and also affects egg quality, hatching rates and offspring health. Welfare-optimised broodstock management including appropriate space, water quality, diet and minimally stressful stripping procedures under anaesthesia benefits both the broodstock fish and the production system downstream.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture welfare standards that include broodstock management provisions
Learn about salmon reproduction and how broodstock welfare affects production outcomes
Advocate for anaesthesia use in salmon stripping procedures
Choose certified salmon from hatcheries with documented broodstock welfare protocols