Aquaculture

Farmed Salmon Deformity: Causes and Prevention

Skeletal and jaw deformities in farmed Atlantic salmon are a significant welfare and production concern, with nutritional, genetic, and environmental causes.

Key Facts

Deformity rates in farmed salmon can reach 10-20% in some production systems
Spinal curvature (scoliosis and lordosis) causes reduced mobility and feeding difficulty
Jaw deformities affect approximately 10% of some commercial salmon populations
Vitamin C and phosphorus deficiencies during early development are associated with higher deformity rates

Welfare Considerations

Deformities cause chronic discomfort and functional impairment for affected fish throughout their lifespan. Prevention through nutritional optimisation, genetic selection, and improved hatchery conditions is achievable and represents a high-impact welfare intervention.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture producers monitoring and reducing deformity rates
Advocate for deformity prevalence reporting as a welfare indicator in aquaculture certification
Engage with research into genetic and nutritional factors causing salmon deformities