Aquaculture Welfare

Salmon Welfare at Sea Cage Net Integrity

Net integrity failures in sea cage salmon farming allow predator access, fish escape, and welfare compromise requiring diligent monitoring.

Key Facts

Net failures allow seals, sea lions, and other predators to enter sea cages and injure salmon
Predator attacks cause severe injuries including bites, scale loss, and infection
Escaped farmed salmon interact with wild populations and can spread disease
Regular net integrity monitoring and rapid repair protocols prevent most failures
Anti-predator nets and underwater cameras help detect and prevent breaches

Welfare Considerations

Net integrity is a fundamental welfare requirement in sea cage aquaculture. Predator access causes acute suffering for individual fish while escapes pose risks to wild populations. Proactive monitoring and rapid response are essential.

What You Can Do

Support salmon producers with certified net integrity monitoring protocols
Advocate for net inspection standards in aquaculture welfare legislation
Purchase salmon from producers demonstrating low escape and predator incident rates