Aquaculture

Farmed Salmon Cage Design and Welfare

Net pen cage design considerations for Atlantic salmon welfare and management of environmental stressors.

Key Facts

Sea cage size and shape affect water current, oxygen, and fish behaviour
Deep cages allow salmon to avoid sea surface lice concentration zones
Cage feeding systems affect competition and welfare of subordinate fish
Net integrity monitoring prevents escape and maintains stocking density control
Cage positioning in relation to current determines water quality experienced by fish

Welfare Considerations

Net pen cage design is a primary determinant of the environmental conditions salmon experience throughout their grow-out phase, with design decisions having cumulative welfare impacts.

What You Can Do

Support development of welfare-focused cage design standards in aquaculture regulation
Advocate for cage design requirements in salmon welfare certification
Choose salmon from farms committed to welfare-informed cage management