Aquaculture

Farmed Salmon Environmental Welfare 2026

How environmental conditions in salmon farming including temperature, oxygen, and pH affect fish welfare in 2026.

Key Facts

Climate change is raising sea temperatures beyond optimal ranges for Atlantic salmon in some areas
Low oxygen events in sea cages cause acute distress and mortality during warm periods
Ocean acidification affects salmon physiology and potentially welfare through sensory impacts
Automated monitoring of water quality parameters enables rapid response to welfare risks
Some farms are exploring offshore cage sites with better environmental conditions

Welfare Considerations

Environmental welfare in salmon farming is increasingly compromised by climate change, which raises temperatures and reduces oxygen in sea cage environments. Adapting production systems to changing conditions is both a welfare and an economic necessity.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture standards that require environmental monitoring and welfare response plans
Advocate for research into climate-adaptive salmon farming approaches
Choose salmon from farms investing in environmental monitoring and adaptation