Aquaculture

Farmed Atlantic Salmon Gill Health Management

Gill disease is the leading health challenge in Atlantic salmon farming, causing chronic suffering and significant mortality.

Key Facts

Amoebic gill disease caused by Neoparamoeba perurans is widespread in sea-cage salmon
Gill damage impairs oxygen uptake causing exercise intolerance and lethargy
Treatment requires bathing fish in freshwater or hydrogen peroxide
Gill health scoring guides treatment decisions but handling itself causes stress
Water quality, stocking density, and louse burden all influence gill health

Welfare Considerations

Chronic gill disease causes significant suffering in farmed salmon, impairing their ability to breathe and function normally. Prevention through biosecurity, stocking management, and early detection is more welfare-positive than repeated treatment. Gill health should be a primary welfare indicator in salmon farming.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture certification requiring gill health monitoring
Choose salmon from producers with transparent gill health reporting
Advocate for regulations requiring minimum gill health standards