Aquaculture

Farmed Salmon Gill Health Welfare

Gill disease is the leading cause of welfare problems and mortality in farmed Atlantic salmon, driven by amoebic gill disease (AGD), parasites, and environmental conditions.

Key Facts

AGD caused by Neoparamoeba perurans is the primary gill disease affecting salmon globally
Affected gills show mucoid lesions that impair oxygen uptake and cause chronic distress
Freshwater bathing is the primary treatment for AGD but requires repeated welfare-impacting events
Sea temperature above 14 degrees Celsius dramatically increases AGD risk
Gill health scoring provides a validated welfare indicator for farmed salmon

Welfare Considerations

Gill disease causes respiratory distress and chronic suffering in millions of farmed salmon. Prevention through site management and monitoring is far preferable to repeated treatment.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture certification that includes gill health standards
Choose salmon from farms with demonstrated low gill disease prevalence
Advocate for research into AGD prevention and treatment alternatives
Raise awareness of gill disease as a major salmon welfare issue