RSPCA welfare standards for farmed Atlantic salmon 21 September 2015
* indicates an amendment
Freshwater (pre-smoltification/juvenile fish)
The freshwater phase of the Atlantic Salmon lifecycle involves a number of separate stages.
These stages range from the egg through to the fully smolted fish. All of them require detailed
standards which ensure the welfare of the fish through the stages of the freshwater phase.
These standards also need to ensure that the fish are fully prepared for the seawater phase of
their lives. The welfare standards pertaining to the seawater phase are contained elsewhere in
this document.
For the purposes of these standards the following definitions apply:
Ova - Green eggs
Fertilised eggs that are water hardened up to the time that you can see the initial
pigment of the fish eye with the naked human eye. This will be at approximately
220 to 250 degree days.
Ova - Eyed eggs
Eggs that have reached the stage of development where the black spot of the eye is
clearly visible. Approximately 220 to 250 degree days post spawn.
Alevins
Hatched eggs not yet ready for first feeding.
Fry
Starting from first feeding up to 1 gram.
Parr
Greater than 1 gram and up to the start of smoltification.
Pre-smolt
The final production period when fish undergo smoltification from parr to smolt.
Smolts
Fully smolted.
These standards relate to both re-circulation and flow through systems.
i
i