Aquaculture Welfare

Farmed Salmon Hatchery Welfare Standards

Hatchery conditions during the first weeks of salmon life establish the foundation for lifetime welfare - water quality, density, and handling protocols are critical.

Key Facts

Hatchery mortality can exceed 30% without good water quality management
Fry are particularly sensitive to ammonia, nitrite, and dissolved oxygen levels
Early handling stress during vaccination or grading can have lasting effects
Genetic selection for disease resistance improves hatchery survival rates
Deformity rates in hatcheries reflect water quality, genetics, and handling quality

Welfare Considerations

The hatchery phase shapes salmon welfare across their entire life. Deformity, stress, and immune compromise arising from poor hatchery conditions create lasting welfare problems. Hatchery welfare standards are foundational to salmon welfare certification.

What You Can Do

Support salmon certification schemes that include hatchery welfare standards
Advocate for mandatory deformity and mortality reporting from salmon hatcheries
Choose Scottish or Norwegian certified salmon with traceable hatchery provenance