Aquaculture Welfare

Farmed Salmon Welfare Certification Consumer Guide

Navigating salmon welfare certification for consumers requires understanding what different schemes require and verify. This guide helps shoppers make more informed choices about salmon welfare.

Key Facts

ASC certification requires environmental sustainability but includes limited welfare parameters
RSPCA Assured salmon certification has specific welfare requirements including stocking density limits
Organic salmon certification includes welfare requirements but prohibits many chemical treatments
Retailer own-label welfare commitments vary significantly in scope and verification
Price is a poor proxy for welfare - cheap salmon can be high welfare and expensive salmon can be low

Welfare Considerations

Consumer choices can drive salmon welfare improvements but only if shoppers can distinguish genuine welfare commitments from marketing claims. Understanding which certification schemes have specific welfare requirements that are independently verified enables more impactful purchasing decisions. Prioritising RSPCA Assured and retailer schemes with specific, audited welfare commitments directs spending toward genuinely better welfare.

What You Can Do

Look for RSPCA Assured labelling when buying salmon
Research your preferred retailer's salmon welfare commitments and verify they are specific and audited
Ask fish counter staff about the welfare certification of salmon on sale