Salmon welfare

Over 12 million Atlantic salmon are produced in Tasmania each year and it takes almost three years for a fish to reach harvest weight. After hatching, young salmon are raised in big freshwater tanks on land for 10-16 months. Fish are then transferred to large marine pens to grow out for another 12-24 months until they are ready for harvest and processing.

Some of the welfare issues associated with farming Atlantic salmon are like those in land-based farming systems for other animals, for example, the amount of space provided to the fish, the way fish are handled, husbandry procedures, the way fish are transported, and how they are killed. Being in an aquatic environment, however, also brings additional challenges such as water quality and interactions with wildlife.

The RSPCA advocates that Atlantic salmon aquaculture focuses on:

the welfare of farmed salmon
the welfare of wildlife impacted by salmon farming operations
environmentally responsible practices.

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The issues

Salmon welfare

Water quality and water flow are critical to fish welfare. Poor water quality (e.g. high temperature or low oxygen levels) or poor water flow (e.g. accumulation of fish waste) result in stress, disease, and mortality.
High stocking densities in freshwater tanks or marine pens result in injury, fin biting, disease, and limits fish’s ability for behavioural control (e.g. position in the water column and ability to swim freely).
Farmed fish generally live in barren environments that lack stimuli or enrichment and are subject to artificial lighting regimes.
Farmed fish are handled numerous times throughout their life. Removing fish from the water, crowding, pumping, grading, bathing, and transport are events that may result in stress, reduced appetite, reduced growth, disease outbreak, and mortalities.
Some slaughter practices may result in ineffective stunning and cause pain and suffering.

Wildlife interactions

Farmed Atlantic salmon are vulnerable to predators, particularly fur seals. Protecting the welfare of the fish is as important as control methods that consider the welfare of the predator. Salmon farms are subjected to hundreds of seal interactions each year with seals capable of biting fish through the pen nets, jumping into pens, ripping holes in the netting and sometimes threatening staff. The Tasmanian Government, through the Seal Management Framework, allows the use of a range of non-lethal deterrent devices, including crackers, bean bags, and scare caps. Deterrent devices elicit anxiety, pain and/or fear and cause the seal to swim away (flight response).

Environmental impact

Aquaculture has the potential to have a negative impact on the natural environment in which farms operate. Potentially polluting activities and waste, e.g. fish waste, wastewater from hatcheries, processing or net maintenance can impact water quality (nutrients, oxygen, and phytoplankton), and feed waste can create bacterial mats in the sediment underneath marine pens.

What needs to change

The RSPCA continues to advocate for:

Salmon welfare

Research initiatives that focus on fish environment, behavioural interactions, and mental state
Research to better understand the importance of sleep or rest, and environmental enrichment for farmed fish
Research to better understand the animal welfare impact of land-based and offshore fish farming systems
Optimal stocking density in the Tasmanian context for both freshwater and marine phases of Atlantic salmon production
Development of a comprehensive fish welfare assessment protocol
Development of Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for farmed Atlantic salmon to underpin regulation of fish welfare in aquaculture

Wildlife interactions

Balancing the welfare of farmed fish and the welfare of their predators
Infrastructure improvements and innovations to protect fish and minimise interactions with seals
Research into alternative seal deterrent methods and phase out of crackers, bean bags, and scare caps
Animal welfare improvements in the revised Tasmanian Seal Management Framework
Animal welfare to be a key priority in the development of new Tasmanian Wildlife Interactions Standards

Environmental impact

Transparent, robust and effective regulation of the planning process
Effective monitoring of environmental impact
Effective enforcement to ensure ongoing compliance with regulations
More comprehensive and regular (including real-time) online publication of independently verified information relevant to environment and fish care
Assessment and approval of marine farming development plans to also consider fish welfare implications in the allocation of new leases for fish farming.

In the meantime, the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme is about lifting the bar for animal welfare, with standards that are frequently reviewed to ensure continuous improvement. The RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standard for farmed Atlantic salmon aims to improve fish welfare by focusing on improved practices, careful fish handling and transport, and humane slaughter.

Overall, there have been positive improvements to the welfare of farmed Atlantic salmon in Tasmania over recent years (especially by those certified to the RSPCA Approved Standard), but there is always more work to be done, and we will continue to engage with industry, government and the public to advocate for more improvements.

Blog

RSPCA Australia 4 September 2021

What does RSPCA Approved mean for improving the lives of farmed salmon?

Approved Farming Scheme salmon

Fish

If your organisation sources product from fish there’s a lot you can do to better understand the animal welfare considerations in your current supply chain, and what aspects can be improved.

Knowledgebase • Offsite

Do fish feel pain?

The answer is yes. Scientific evidence that fish are sentient animals capable of experiencing pain and suffering has been building for some years.

Knowledgebase • Offsite

How are salmon farmed in Australia?

Salmon have a natural lifespan of between 3 to 8 years. Born in freshwater and living their adult lives at sea, but then returning to their freshwater birthplace to spawn.

Knowledgebase • Offsite

How do RSPCA Approved salmon farms protect fish from predators, such as seals?

Maintaining good fish welfare by protecting farmed Atlantic salmon from predators, such as seals and sea birds is critical to the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme standards.

Knowledgebase • Offsite

Do the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme standards for salmon address potential environmental impacts?

Compliance with regulatory requirements in relation to environmental impact management and monitoring is a prerequisite of all producers wishing to be certified to an RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standard.

Knowledgebase • Offsite

How are farmed Atlantic salmon killed?

The RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standard for farmed Atlantic salmon provide the requirements for rearing, handling, transport and slaughter. The standards for slaughter require that fish are stunned and therefore unconscious before any further processing is carried out.

Fish are sentient animals capable of experiencing pain and suffering.

Stay updated for future developments on this key issue

The issues

Salmon welfare

Wildlife interactions

Environmental impact

What needs to change

Salmon welfare

Wildlife interactions

Environmental impact

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Stay updated for future developments on this key issue

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