Farmed Atlantic Salmon Welfare: Scale and Standards

Over 2 million tonnes of farmed salmon are produced annually making welfare improvements highly impactful.

Key Facts

Norway produces over 1.4 million tonnes of farmed salmon annually making it the largest producer
Salmon spend 12 to 18 months in sea cages reaching up to 5 kilograms at harvest
Crowding stress in sea cages causes chronic cortisol elevation affecting immune function
Cataracts affect up to 80 percent of farmed salmon in some production systems
Harvest typically involves crowding, pump transfer, and percussive or electrical stunning

Welfare Considerations

Farmed salmon welfare is compromised by high stocking densities that prevent normal ranging behaviour. Chronic stress suppresses immune function making fish more susceptible to disease. Cataracts from nutritional deficiencies impair vision and feeding ability. Sea lice cause chronic skin irritation and secondary infection. Harvest procedures including crowding into smaller and smaller net pens cause extreme stress and exhaustion before slaughter. Poorly calibrated stunning equipment allows fish to recover consciousness during bleeding.

What You Can Do

Choose RSPCA Assured or certified salmon where available
Reduce farmed salmon consumption or choose lower impact fish species
Advocate for mandatory pre-slaughter stunning standards in UK salmon harvest
Support research into welfare indicators for farmed salmon
Engage retailers about improving welfare requirements in their salmon supply chains