The juvenile phase of salmon farming — smolt production in freshwater hatcheries — involves stocking densities and handling practices that can compromise welfare before fish even reach sea cages.
The welfare of salmon in their juvenile phase is often overlooked in public discussion, which tends to focus on sea-cage conditions. Yet the hatchery period involves repeated stressful interventions — vaccination, grading, transport — that shape long-term health and behavior. Investment in lower-density, enriched hatchery environments and gentler handling protocols can improve both welfare and productivity.