Aquaculture and Fish Welfare

Salmon Welfare and Anaesthesia: Best Practice

Anaesthesia is used for handling, treatment and sampling of farmed salmon. Correct use minimises stress and pain during procedures that would otherwise cause significant suffering.

Key Facts

AQUI-S and clove oil are the most widely used salmon anaesthetics in aquaculture
Under-anaesthesia results in handling stress and pain during procedures
Over-anaesthesia can cause respiratory depression and death
Recovery in well-oxygenated water after anaesthesia reduces post-procedural stress
Anaesthetic induction time varies with water temperature and must be calibrated

Welfare Considerations

Anaesthesia is a welfare tool that must be used correctly to deliver its intended benefit. Training staff in proper anaesthetic use is a prerequisite for welfare-positive salmon management.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture certification schemes that specify anaesthesia protocols for salmon handling
Advocate for mandatory anaesthesia training in aquaculture welfare standards
Choose certified salmon from operations with documented procedural welfare protocols