Aquaculture

Salmon Acoustic Stress from Marine Operations

Underwater noise from operational activities near salmon sea cages causes measurable stress and welfare impacts.

Key Facts

Boat engines, winches and service vessels create chronic acoustic disturbance near cages
Salmon detect sound through the lateral line system and inner ear
Cortisol levels in salmon near active service vessels are measurably elevated
Delousing procedures using hydrolicer and thermolicer equipment create intense acute acoustic stress
Acoustic monitoring systems can identify peak disturbance events for management intervention

Welfare Considerations

Aquaculture operations create an acoustic environment very different from natural conditions, imposing chronic and acute stress on salmon throughout their cage life. Managing acoustic disturbance through vessel scheduling, quieter equipment and acoustic barriers represents an underdeveloped welfare improvement opportunity.

What You Can Do

Support certification schemes that include acoustic welfare standards for salmon farms
Advocate for regulatory assessment of acoustic impacts in new farm development proposals
Choose certified salmon from farms with documented welfare monitoring
Follow SINTEF research on acoustic environment management in Norwegian salmon farming