Aquaculture

Farmed Atlantic Salmon Climate Adaptation Welfare

Rising sea temperatures from climate change are creating new welfare challenges for Atlantic salmon aquaculture.

Key Facts

Optimal salmon growth occurs at 10-14 degrees C; temperatures above 18-20 degrees cause stress and appetite loss
Scottish sea loch temperatures have risen 1-2 degrees since 1990, approaching stress thresholds
Algal blooms, jellyfish swarms and toxic plankton are increasing with warming waters
Fallowing periods may need lengthening as warmer temperatures favour pathogen survival
Site selection and production timing must adapt to avoid peak warm water periods

Welfare Considerations

Thermal stress in warming waters causes appetite loss, immune compromise and in extreme cases mass mortality in salmon cages. Climate adaptation in aquaculture requires proactive site selection, harvesting before peak summer temperatures and investment in heat stress mitigation. Welfare impacts of climate change on farmed fish will intensify without adaptation.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture sustainability certifications that include climate adaptation planning
Advocate for regulatory frameworks requiring climate risk assessment in aquaculture permitting
Choose certified salmon from operations with transparent climate adaptation strategies
Support research into salmon breeds and management systems with enhanced thermal tolerance