Salmo salar is a salmonid from both coasts of the northern Atlantic, migrating into boardering rivers to spawn. It is the most frequently farmed fish in Europe which represents 50% of the worldwide S. salar production. Upbringing in fresh water, predominantly in flow-through tanks, lasts for 1-1.5 years after which smoltification prepares the individuals for life in seawater; on-growing in sea cages covers 50-70% of the life cycle. Where the culture site does not provide suitable conditions for sea transfer, individuals are grown out in land-based freshwater RAS to harvestable size. Individuals are slaughtered before reaching maturity. Adults destined to become broodstock are transferred back to freshwater about 2 months before spawning. The underlying migration habit is one of the factors very hard to accommodate in captivity, as it is unclear whether it is sufficient to provide the species with the conditions of the respective life stages or whether it needs to experience the transition. Other factors responsible for the low FishEthoScore are substrate needs as well as high levels of aggression, stress, and deformations under farming conditions. Avoiding manipulation to induce spawning, providing substrate, and applying the high-standard slaughter methods are ways towards improving welfare for S. salar in captivity.
For details see: Dossier & WelfareCheck | farm
