Advancing Salmon Welfare in Aquaculture

Atlantic salmon is consumed all over the world and is one of the most widely farmed fish species. With production concentrated in Norway, Chile, Scotland, and Canada, most farmed salmon are raised in open sea cages.

Since 2010, global salmon aquaculture has surged by over 70%, and demand continues to grow. But with rapid expansion comes greater responsibility. The industry faces significant challenges, including high fish mortality caused by disease, sea lice and intensive delousing treatments. In 2019 alone, Scotland and Norway reported mortality losses of 13.5% and 15% of their annual production, respectively.

As the industry evolves, addressing these challenges is critical to ensuring a sustainable future for salmon farming.

Essential Tools for Improving Salmon Welfare in Aquaculture

Our Salmon Welfare tools are designed to help the food industry address some of these issues and raise the bar for fish welfare—providing practical guidance, transparency, and accountability.

In 2023, we launched the Salmon Welfare Scorecard, evaluating the public policies of leading salmon producers.
In 2025, we introduced the Salmon Retailer Spotlight, comparing how UK retailers perform across six key welfare criteria for fresh and frozen salmon.

Why Salmon Welfare Matters

Fish are sentient beings capable of experiencing pain and distress. As aquaculture scales up, so must our efforts to protect their welfare. Our resources help producers, retailers, and consumers make informed, ethical choices.

Explore our fish resources and insights to learn more about salmon welfare and how you can make a difference.