Aquaculture

Farmed Salmon Gill Health and Welfare Implications

Gill health is one of the most important welfare indicators in farmed Atlantic salmon, with multiple pathogens and environmental stressors contributing to disease.

Key Facts

Gill disease is the leading cause of salmon mortality in Norwegian sea cage farming
Amoebic gill disease (AGD) caused by Neoparamoeba perurans requires freshwater treatment
Gill damage impairs oxygen exchange leading to exercise intolerance and stress
Proliferative gill inflammation (PGI) is a complex disease of unknown aetiology
Gill health assessment using scoring systems enables early intervention

Welfare Considerations

Gill disease causes chronic respiratory compromise that is physiologically equivalent to partial suffocation. Early detection through regular gill health scoring, combined with appropriate treatment, minimises welfare suffering duration.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture certification that includes mandatory gill health monitoring
Advocate for transparent gill health data reporting in salmon certification
Choose salmon from producers demonstrating low gill disease prevalence
Encourage research into preventative gill health management