Wildlife

Wild Salmon Population Welfare and Conservation

Wild Atlantic salmon face multiple welfare threats from overfishing, habitat degradation, and interactions with aquaculture that require coordinated conservation action.

Key Facts

Atlantic salmon populations have declined by over 70% since the 1970s
River barriers including dams prevent salmon from accessing spawning grounds
Sea lice from salmon farms can devastate juvenile wild salmon passing farms
Water temperature increases from climate change exceed salmon thermal tolerance
Electrofishing for population monitoring causes temporary stress requiring welfare protocols

Welfare Considerations

Wild salmon face welfare threats at every life stage - from river habitat degradation and predation increases, to sea lice exposure near farms, to warming seas affecting food availability. Conservation interventions must consider both population viability and individual welfare during interventions such as electrofishing, tagging, and translocation.

What You Can Do

Support river restoration organisations removing barriers to salmon migration
Advocate for aquaculture siting regulations protecting wild salmon migration routes
Choose wild salmon certified from well-managed populations or certified farmed alternatives