Aquaculture Welfare

Farmed Salmon Welfare at Sea Cage

Sea cage conditions represent the longest phase of salmon welfare - stocking density, net integrity, and environmental management are primary welfare determinants.

Key Facts

Salmon spend 12-24 months in sea cages depending on target market weight
Stocking density at 25kg/m3 is significantly higher than natural habitat densities
Net integrity prevents escapees and ensures adequate water exchange for welfare
Predator nets protect salmon from external injury but require regular inspection
Camera monitoring in sea cages enables real-time behavioural welfare assessment

Welfare Considerations

Sea cage welfare encompasses the majority of a farmed salmon's life. Stocking density, environmental quality, and predator protection are primary welfare determinants during this phase - getting them right is fundamental to salmon welfare certification.

What You Can Do

Support certification schemes that specify sea cage welfare standards
Advocate for stocking density limits based on salmon welfare research
Choose salmon from certified farms with published sea cage welfare monitoring data