Wildlife Welfare

Wild Atlantic Salmon Migration Welfare

Atlantic salmon face welfare challenges during their upstream migration including passage barriers, water temperature, and disease. Improving migratory conditions benefits salmon welfare.

Key Facts

Atlantic salmon migrate hundreds of kilometres from sea to spawning rivers
Passage barriers including weirs and dams cause significant migration delay and mortality
High water temperatures cause physiological stress and disease during migration
Sea lice from salmon farms infest wild salmon during coastal migration phases
Fish passes at barriers restore connectivity but have variable effectiveness

Welfare Considerations

Migratory Atlantic salmon welfare is affected by multiple stressors encountered during the demanding upstream migration. Barrier removal, fish pass installation, and sea lice management in coastal farms all improve migratory welfare.

What You Can Do

Support barrier removal and fish pass installation on migratory rivers
Advocate for sea lice management standards that protect wild salmon welfare
Learn about Atlantic salmon migration ecology and welfare challenges
Support organisations working on river restoration for migratory fish