The latest Salmon Welfare Scorecard, published by Compassion in World Farming, has found that 62% of the farmed salmon producers that it assessed have improved their reporting and policies on welfare compared to last year, with improvements seen across all parameters. However, the international farm animal welfare charity maintains there’s still significant room for further progress in transparency, reporting and policy development.
Its second Salmon Welfare Scorecard evaluates the public policies and reporting of 11 major producers – representing 63% of the global salmon industry – across 13 welfare criteria.
The public policies of Aquachile, Bakkafrost, Camanchaca, Cermaq, Cooke, Greig Seafood, Leroy, Mowi, MultiX, SalMar and Scottish Sea Farms were evaluated based on their transparency in communicating key welfare issues. Using publicly available company information, each parameter was assessed independently, with results presented in a comparison table based on a 5-Tier scale, from 1 to 5 and from red to green.
“The Salmon Welfare Scorecard was designed to promote greater transparency for consumers and investors, and it has been well received as a tool to identify areas where the industry must invest and act to address welfare challenges,” Compassion in World Farming Head of Food Business Louise Valducci said.
“While some progress has been made, the industry still falls short in fully embracing transparent reporting of welfare policies and practices. Greater openness, including the sharing of positive developments, could significantly strengthen relationships with stakeholders.”
Valducci continued: “Each year, over 400 million salmon are farmed globally, yet the industry continues to face criticism for failing to implement effective welfare solutions to issues such as high stocking densities, mortality rates, and barren environments that lack mental stimulation for fish. With growing social and investor pressures, producers must prioritise these concerns, adopt welfare-focused policies, and be proactive in sharing their progress.
“The scorecard provides clear direction for addressing these challenges, but it is ultimately up to the industry to collaborate, invest and take collective action to improve salmon welfare.”
The analysis finds the most improved criteria between 2023 and 2024 was Predator Management, Key Welfare Indicators and Genetics, with Compassion in World Farming suggesting that these practices were likely in place but previously underreported.
This year, the highest scoring criteria overall are Genetics, Humane Slaughter and Health Planning Treatments, which the charity said is most likely influenced by increasing social pressure for environmental protection and growing concerns about the use of antibiotics and their impact on human and planetary health.
Compassion in World Farming said the seven producers achieving the “Green Tier” (Tier 5) for Genetics, such as Bakkafrost and Camanchaca, should be commended. In contrast, other producers score significantly lower, primarily due to insufficient reporting on their practices.
This lack of transparency raises concerns that these producers may potentially support controversial practices such as cloning, genetic engineering or the use of triploids in their policies, it added.
It was also highlighted that Humane Slaughter is the welfare parameter where most producers achieve a “Light Green” (Tier 4) or better and that given the overall scores and tier levels, it’s likely the best communicated parameter.
In contrast, Stocking Density remained the worst communicated parameter.
Despite a slight improvement on the 2024 Scorecard, reporting on this issue is still largely vague, lacking ownership, clarity or sufficient detail, the charity said, explaining that often, reports only reference legislation or fail to meet the standards for desirable welfare practices.
Two producers – Aquachile and MultiX – have received flags for their stocking density scores due to uncertainty around the accuracy and implementation of their policies.
The next most poorly communicated areas are Transport & Transfer, Enclosure and Sea Lice. The Sea Lice parameter receives low scores due to the practices disclosed, with most producers achieving only an “Amber Tier” (Tier 3). But Compassion in World Farming said that Transport & Transfer is “particularly concerning”, with most producers scoring a “Red Tier” (Tier 1) due to the lack of communication regarding their practices and policies.
The industry must establish and communicate a clear policy on how salmon are transferred and the conditions under which they are transported, it said.
