Aquaculture

Aquaculture RAS Welfare and Sustainability

Recirculating aquaculture systems offer improved welfare control and environmental benefits. Their scaling is transforming salmon and other species farming.

Key Facts

RAS recycles 99% of water, enabling production far from natural water bodies
Closed systems eliminate sea lice, disease transmission to wild fish, and chemical discharge
RAS water quality control enables precise optimization for fish welfare and growth
High capital costs have limited RAS adoption but large-scale commercial operations are now viable
Atlantic salmon, trout, and tilapia are the primary species in commercial RAS production

Welfare Considerations

Recirculating aquaculture systems represent a technological solution to many of the environmental and welfare problems of sea-cage farming. Precise water quality control, disease elimination, and removal of sea lice create better baseline welfare conditions. The primary challenge is ensuring that welfare advantages are realized rather than undermined by higher stocking densities enabled by the system.

What You Can Do

Choose RAS-produced salmon and trout where available and labeled
Support research into RAS welfare optimization including stocking density and stress management
Advocate for RAS investment as a welfare-positive aquaculture transition pathway
Ask retailers about whether their farmed salmon supply includes RAS-produced fish