Aquaculture

Farmed Salmon Disease Resistance Genetics

Genetic selection for disease resistance in Atlantic salmon is improving welfare by reducing disease incidence and treatment requirements.

Key Facts

Heritability for resistance to infectious salmon anaemia and sea lice is meaningful in Atlantic salmon
Genomic selection enables faster genetic progress in disease resistance traits
Disease-resistant fish experience fewer treatment interventions with associated welfare costs
Pan-genome approaches to salmon genetics improve understanding of resistance mechanisms
Commercial breeding companies including Benchmark and Mowi Genetics invest in resistance selection

Welfare Considerations

Disease resistance genetics represents one of the highest-value welfare investments in salmon farming. Fish that resist disease suffer less and require fewer treatment interventions. The welfare benefit compounds over generations as resistance improves. Genetic approaches to welfare are permanent and scalable in ways that management interventions are not.

What You Can Do

Support certified salmon from companies with active disease resistance breeding programmes
Advocate for welfare genetics investment as a core component of aquaculture sustainability
Choose salmon from companies publishing welfare genetics research