Aquaculture

Farmed Salmon Welfare 2026 Progress

A comprehensive review of progress in farmed salmon welfare in 2026 and areas requiring continued effort.

Key Facts

Electrical stunning adoption at harvest has increased significantly in Norwegian and UK salmon
Cleaner fish welfare standards have improved with better lumpfish husbandry guidelines
Pre-harvest crowding duration limits are increasingly incorporated in certification schemes
Lice treatment frequency has declined in some areas through better monitoring and biological control
Consumer awareness of salmon welfare is increasing in key markets

Welfare Considerations

Salmon welfare in 2026 reflects genuine progress in some areas alongside persistent challenges. The gap between certification standards and actual practice remains wide in some sectors. Continued advocacy, consumer demand, and regulatory pressure are all needed to accelerate improvement.

What You Can Do

Choose salmon certified to the most comprehensive welfare standards available
Advocate for mandatory welfare requirements rather than purely voluntary certification
Support aquaculture welfare science research to continue improving assessment and standards