Aquaculture

Farmed Salmon Acoustic Stress from Boat Traffic

Noise from vessels and equipment near salmon sea cages causes chronic stress that affects welfare and production.

Key Facts

Salmon detect low-frequency sounds via the lateral line and inner ear
Boat engine noise and feeding system sounds create chronic acoustic disturbance
Elevated cortisol from noise stress suppresses immune function and growth
Acoustic monitoring can identify peak disturbance periods for management adjustment
Quieter feeding systems and acoustic barriers are being trialled at progressive farms

Welfare Considerations

Chronic acoustic stress is a significant but often overlooked welfare issue in cage aquaculture. Addressing it requires investment in quieter equipment, careful vessel scheduling and improved understanding of salmon acoustic sensitivity thresholds.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture welfare certification schemes that include acoustic standards
Advocate for inclusion of noise assessment in farm welfare audits
Choose certified welfare-labelled salmon where available
Follow research from SINTEF and Norwegian veterinary institutes on acoustic welfare