Aquaculture Welfare

Farmed Salmon ISA Disease Welfare

Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) causes high mortality in farmed salmon. Biosecurity and surveillance protect fish welfare and industry viability.

Key Facts

ISA virus causes anaemia, haemorrhage, and high mortality
Outbreaks have devastated Norwegian and Chilean salmon farming
Stamping-out policies involve mass culling of affected farms
Vaccination provides partial protection in some endemic regions
Fallowing between production cycles reduces ISA persistence

Welfare Considerations

Salmon dying from ISA experience progressive anaemia - weakness, respiratory distress, and haemorrhage before death. Mass outbreaks affect millions of fish simultaneously. Biosecurity that prevents ISA transmission protects fish from this painful disease while avoiding the welfare costs of both the disease itself and mass emergency culling.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture certification with rigorous biosecurity standards
Advocate for mandatory ISA surveillance in salmon farming regions
Support research into improved ISA vaccines and diagnostics
Learn about the role of fallowing in salmon farm disease management