RSPCA welfare standards for farmed Atlantic salmon (i) September 2015
Contents
Introduction iii
Management 1
Manager and stock-keeper training ..................................................................................... 1
Inspection and records ........................................................................................................ 2
Health 4
Casualty slaughter .............................................................................................................. 5
Medicinal products .............................................................................................................. 5
Sea lice ............................................................................................................................... 6
Mutilations ........................................................................................................................... 7
Husbandry practices 8
Handling .............................................................................................................................. 8
Crowding/splitting to reduce stocking density/biomass ....................................................... 9
Passive grading ................................................................................................................. 11
Hand/manual grading ........................................................................................................ 11
Wellboat grading ............................................................................................................... 12
Pushing/towing enclosures ............................................................................................... 13
Protection from other animals ........................................................................................... 13
Genetic selection and modification ................................................................................... 15
Equipment 16
Enclosure/tank construction, situation and maintenance .................................................. 16
Tanks ................................................................................................................................ 16
Enclosures ........................................................................................................................ 16
Feeding 17
Food content ..................................................................................................................... 17
Feeding methods .............................................................................................................. 17
Fasting .............................................................................................................................. 18
Environmental quality 19
External water quality (seawater/freshwater loch) ............................................................ 19
Lighting .............................................................................................................................. 19
Climate change and animal welfare .................................................................................. 19
Environmental impact 20
Escapees .......................................................................................................................... 20
Extraneous species ........................................................................................................... 20
Fallowing ........................................................................................................................... 20
Aesthetic ........................................................................................................................... 20