Aquaculture

Farmed Salmon RAS Land-Based Systems

Welfare implications of recirculating aquaculture systems for salmon production, including water quality and density management.

Key Facts

RAS systems recirculate 95-99% of water, controlling all environmental parameters
Higher capital costs of RAS mean greater pressure to maximize stocking density
Biosecurity in RAS is superior to sea cages, reducing disease and chemical treatment needs
Ammonia and CO2 accumulation in RAS require careful management to prevent welfare harm
RAS enables production near consumer markets, reducing transport welfare costs

Welfare Considerations

RAS systems offer significant potential welfare advantages through disease control, water quality management, and biosecurity. However, the economic pressure of high capital costs can drive stocking densities and operational decisions that undermine welfare benefits.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture standards that apply welfare requirements equally to RAS and sea cage systems
Advocate for stocking density limits in RAS salmon certification
Choose RAS salmon from certified farms with demonstrated welfare performance