Aquaculture

Salmon Genetic Selection and Welfare Traits

Selective breeding programs for farmed Atlantic salmon can improve welfare by selecting for disease resistance, temperament and physical robustness.

Key Facts

Resistance to sea lice, AGD and ISA is heritable and selection is progressing
Domestication selection has reduced acute stress responses in farmed salmon
Skeletal deformities including vertebral compression are heritable and reducible
Temperament traits affecting aggression and crowding tolerance are under selection
Welfare trait inclusion in breeding values is emerging industry practice

Welfare Considerations

Genetic improvement offers a long-term pathway to reduced disease burden and better stress resilience in farmed salmon. Unlike management changes that must be applied repeatedly, genetic improvements persist across generations. Integrating welfare traits alongside production traits in breeding programs is an ethical imperative.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture certification schemes incentivising welfare trait selection
Advocate for including welfare metrics in salmon breeding indices
Choose salmon from producers with documented genetic improvement programs