Aquaculture

Salmon Vaccination and Antibiotic Reduction

Vaccination of farmed salmon has dramatically reduced antibiotic use in Norwegian aquaculture, demonstrating that welfare and sustainability can align.

Key Facts

Norway used approximately 48 tonnes of antibiotics in salmon farming in 1987
Following vaccination programme development, use fell to under 1 tonne by the mid-1990s
Vaccines against furunculosis and vibriosis were the key welfare breakthrough
Vaccination by injection requires handling and causes temporary stress
Reduced antibiotic use benefits both fish welfare and antimicrobial resistance management

Welfare Considerations

The Norwegian vaccination success story demonstrates that investment in preventive medicine can dramatically reduce suffering from disease and eliminate the welfare costs of antibiotic treatment. Injection vaccination requires handling but provides protection from diseases that cause far greater suffering. This model can be applied to other aquaculture species and regions.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture standards requiring vaccination programmes for preventable diseases
Choose salmon from certified farms with documented low antibiotic use
Advocate for aquaculture antibiotic use transparency as a consumer information right