Aquaculture Welfare

Salmon Welfare and Disease Management

Disease management in salmon aquaculture is a major welfare challenge. Prevention-first approaches, early detection, and welfare-conscious treatment protocols improve outcomes.

Key Facts

Bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases cause significant mortality and suffering in farmed salmon
Pancreas disease, heart and skeletal muscle inflammation are major viral threats
Early detection through monitoring enables timely treatment and reduces suffering
Antibiotic treatment, while necessary in some cases, should be minimised
Vaccination has dramatically reduced antibiotic use for bacterial diseases

Welfare Considerations

Disease is one of the most significant welfare threats in salmon farming. Prevention-first approaches, rapid detection, and humane treatment protocols reduce both individual suffering and disease transmission.

What You Can Do

Support certified salmon from farms with transparent disease management records
Advocate for mandatory disease welfare reporting in aquaculture
Learn about salmon disease and welfare management
Choose products certified to standards including disease welfare criteria