Hatchery conditions during the earliest life stages of farmed salmon significantly influence later health and welfare outcomes. Optimising water quality, density, and enrichment in hatcheries improves welfare throughout production.
Hatchery conditions establish the welfare baseline for the entire salmon production cycle. Deformities, disease susceptibility, and behavioural abnormalities acquired during the hatchery phase persist and compound throughout the fish's life. Investing in optimal hatchery conditions - including water quality, appropriate density, and careful feeding management - provides welfare benefits that cascade through the entire production cycle.