Our campaigns Stop salmon farming expansion 17.4 salmon died prematurely on Scotland's salmon farms in 2023. It is time for radical change, so that farmed salmon are given quality lives. Until this happens, there should be no further expansion of this industry. Sign the petition What are the key welfare issues? The sheer number of animals suffering in Scotland's salmon farms is staggering. High mortality rates 17.4 million salmon died during the 'production cycle' ending in 2023, with almost 1 million dying at one site alone. High mortality rates are an indicator of suffering. Salmon on farms in Scotland are stocked at high densities, in environments with no or little enrichment, and are exposed to sea lice, disease, predators and bad weather amongst other things. Sea lice Sea lice are parasites that feed on the flesh, scales and tissues of salmon. This leaves tissue exposed, causing pain and creating an entrance for disease, as well as causing stress and mortality. In crowded conditions, sea lice levels are very high. Disease Diseases are prevalent across salmon farms. They include Cardiomyopathy syndrome which impacts the heart muscle of salmon, leaving them weak and fragile; Amoebic Gill Disease, where parasites cause death via asphyxiation and Infectious Salmon Anaemia, which has no cure, meaning that infected fish must be slaughtered. Treatment Sadly, treatments for sea lice and disease often do more harm than good, exposing salmon to harsh chemicals or harrowing mechanical treatments, causing stress, physical injury and death. A key example of this is the Thermolicer, whereby fish are exposed to high water temperatures, abrasive surfaces, and severe crowding. Mortalities can be high, with tens of thousands of fish sometimes dying following Thermolicer treatment. (Footage © Don Staniford) Escapes Escapes from salmon farms are frequent, with 52,463 farmed salmon escaping in 2022. In 2023, there was a mass escape of 80,000 salmon, which went unreported for two years. Salmon that escape are poorly adapted to a life in the wild and will suffer. Escaped farmed salmon also interbreed with wild individuals, which creates offspring with reduced fitness, which causes severe population declines of wild salmon. Welfare impacts: not just salmon It is not just farmed salmon that are impacted by salmon farming in Scotland. Crustaceans are damaged by chemicals used and declines in wild salmon and trout numbers have been linked to salmon farming. Cleaner fish Wrasse and lumpfish used as "cleaner fish" are used as an alternative “treatment” for sea lice, as they pick off and eat them from salmon. However, they too suffer on salmon farms from aggression, disease, and treatment damage. Most are not thought to survive the production cycle, and if they do they are disposed of by the industry to minimise the spread of disease. The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission has recommended that the use of these fish as tools be phased out. (Image taken from video footage.) What progress has been made? In 2025, we met with the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission on the use of ‘cleaner fish’, leading to a recommendation that their use be phased out within ten years. This is a step forward for protecting both salmon and the species used alongside them. In 2024, we contributed to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee inquiry on salmon farming last year. In 2023, we co-ordinated a joint letter from 30 experts to the Scottish Government, urging them to not sideline salmon welfare. Salmon farming reports We have produced three reports on the salmon farming industry: Fish welfare on Scotland’s salmon farms; The welfare status of salmon farms and companies in Scotland - 2017 and Cleaner fish welfare on Scotland’s salmon farms. We also released a joint salmon farming report with Compassion in World Farming, “Underwater cages, parasites, and dead fish”. Manage Cookie Preferences