Consultation Launched for Enhanced Organic Salmon Farming Regulations

Public Input Needed to Heighten Animal Welfare and Environmental Sustainability

The Soil Association has launched a public consultation with a series of proposals aimed at improving animal welfare and reducing the environmental impacts associated with organic salmon farming.

Last year, the Soil Association, which sets the standards for certified organic salmon, expressed concerns about the state of the sector, stating that it would withdraw its support unless significant progress was made by Summer 2026.

The proposed improvements are multifaceted and include enhancing welfare measures, tackling high mortality rates, increasing the sustainability of feed sources, and eliminating the discharge of veterinary medicines harmful to marine ecosystems.

Revising Organic Salmon Standards

As part of its commitment to reform, the Soil Association is reviewing its standards, which are already among the most stringent in the industry and have catalyzed positive changes even among non-organic farms.

The ongoing consultation, following extensive research and collaboration with aquaculture experts, invites comments from stakeholders interested in the future of salmon farming. Insights gathered will inform updates to Soil Association standards and contribute to broader industry improvements.

Sarah Compson, Standards Director at the Soil Association, remarked:

“The feedback from our research was unambiguous: We must enhance both animal welfare and environmental outcomes. Our standards have facilitated beneficial changes in Scottish salmon farming for over two decades, yet we recognize that further action is necessary. Collaborating with experts in aquaculture and welfare has been instrumental in shaping our proposals, and this consultation will help gauge the potential impact of these plans.”

Proposed Stricter Regulations

The consultation aims to gather opinions on various prospective new standards. Notable proposals include:

• Preventative Management Strategies: Implementing meticulous management approaches to mitigate risks related to injuries, diseases, and pests.
• Veterinary Medicine Regulations: Seeking feedback on a potential ban on deltamethrin, a veterinary treatment currently allowed only as a last resort against sea lice. The consultation will explore the feasibility and implications of such a ban, given that two other harmful veterinary medicines are already prohibited under Soil Association standards.
• Enhanced Monitoring: Increasing the monitoring and reporting of welfare outcomes for organic salmon and safeguarding critical marine habitats around farm sites.

The consultation will remain open until Sunday, 15 March.

Path Forward for Organic Salmon Farming

This consultation represents a significant step in the Soil Association’s ongoing assessment of how to achieve meaningful advancements in organic salmon farming by mid-year.

The charity is also engaging with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to shape future policies and regulations. A series of commitments from the Scottish Government following a parliamentary inquiry aim to address some of the Soil Association’s goals, including the establishment of a robust framework to identify ‘persistently high mortality’ rates at production sites.

Additionally, the Soil Association is forming an expert group this year to investigate sustainable aquaculture feed solutions and the possibility of updating organic standards further.

To participate in the consultation or to stay updated on the review process, please visit: www.soilassociation.org/salmonreview.