Aquaculture

Farmed Salmon Pre-Harvest Welfare Assessment

Pre-harvest welfare assessment protocols for farmed salmon and their implementation in commercial operations.

Key Facts

Pre-harvest welfare assessment evaluates fish health, fin damage, and behaviour
Crowding for pumping is the primary welfare challenge at harvest
Assessment guides decisions on harvest timing and method
Norway requires pre-harvest welfare assessment under aquaculture welfare regulations
Poor pre-harvest welfare increases stunning failure rates and compromises meat quality

Welfare Considerations

Pre-harvest welfare assessment ensures fish are only processed when in a welfare-compatible state, reducing suffering at the most high-risk point in the production cycle.

What You Can Do

Advocate for mandatory pre-harvest welfare assessment in aquaculture standards
Support development of validated pre-harvest welfare assessment tools
Choose salmon from farms with published pre-harvest welfare protocols