Aquaculture Welfare

Farmed Salmon Welfare Certification Progress

Aquaculture welfare certification has advanced significantly for salmon but gaps and inconsistencies between schemes remain welfare challenges.

Key Facts

RSPCA Assured covers welfare throughout the salmon production cycle
ASC focuses primarily on environmental sustainability with welfare provisions
GlobalG.A.P. provides broader market coverage but weaker welfare criteria
Schemes differ in treatment of key issues including sea lice, slaughter, and stocking density
Consumer demand for certified salmon is growing particularly in UK and Scandinavian markets

Welfare Considerations

Welfare certification has been a significant driver of welfare improvement in salmon farming, creating market incentives for higher standards. However, the proliferation of schemes with variable criteria creates consumer confusion and uneven welfare protection. Strengthening welfare provisions within existing schemes and harmonising standards across schemes would improve welfare protection while reducing confusion.

What You Can Do

Choose RSPCA Assured salmon for the strongest UK welfare guarantee
Support campaigns to strengthen welfare criteria in aquaculture certification schemes
Ask retailers about their salmon welfare sourcing standards