Farmed Salmon Pre-Harvest Standard

Developing and implementing pre-harvest welfare standards for farmed Atlantic salmon.

Key Facts

Pre-harvest periods including crowding, feed withdrawal, and transport are high-risk welfare events
Current pre-harvest welfare standards vary enormously between producers and certification schemes
Standardized pre-harvest welfare protocols have been developed by several welfare organizations
Duration of feed withdrawal, crowding density, and water quality are key welfare parameters
Welfare indicators including behavior, opercular rate, and crowding response validate standard effectiveness

Welfare Considerations

Pre-harvest welfare standards directly determine the quality of salmon welfare during the most stressful phase of production. Without standardized, evidence-based protocols, pre-harvest welfare is determined by operational convenience rather than animal welfare evidence.

What You Can Do

Support certification schemes with specific, evidence-based pre-harvest welfare requirements
Advocate for pre-harvest welfare standards to be mandatory rather than voluntary
Choose salmon from farms with verified pre-harvest welfare protocols