Aquaculture

Farmed Salmon Climate Adaptation Welfare

Climate change is creating new welfare challenges for farmed salmon through warmer seas, jellyfish blooms, and altered disease patterns.

Key Facts

Ocean warming is increasing the frequency of harmful algal blooms near salmon farms
Jellyfish blooms cause mass mortality and welfare emergencies in sea cages
Atlantic salmon have narrow temperature tolerances, with stress above 18-20C
Warmer seas shift sea lice reproductive cycles, increasing infestation pressure
Genetic selection for thermal tolerance is an emerging welfare response to climate change

Welfare Considerations

Climate change is creating new welfare threats in salmon farming that require proactive adaptation. Warmer seas, jellyfish blooms, and altered disease patterns cause acute welfare emergencies. Adaptation through genetic selection, site selection, and monitoring technology is a welfare imperative alongside mitigation of emissions driving ocean warming.

What You Can Do

Support climate action as an animal welfare priority for farmed fish
Choose certified salmon from farms developing climate adaptation strategies
Advocate for aquaculture industry engagement in climate risk planning