New Norwegian project to focus on hatchery fish welfare

A new Norwegian research project has been launched to examine how the handling of salmon smolt can be made safer as aquaculture facilities grow larger and production systems more complex.

The "HandleWithCare" project will focus on fish welfare during the freshwater smolt stage and after transfer to sea. According to Nofima, which is leading the work, higher pumping heights and more intensive handling practices are placing increasing strain on young fish.

“We assume that gentler handling during the smolt phase results in more robust fish at sea and improved production outcomes,” said René Alvestad, researcher and project manager at Nofima.

The researchers plan to document how smolt are handled across different salmon farming facilities and to assess how practices vary between sites. Alvestad said this variation needs to be understood before welfare can be improved. “To improve welfare, we must first map this variation and document which factors pose the greatest welfare risks,” he said.

Based on this mapping, the project aims to develop measures that can be applied in commercial operations. Nofima says the intention is to help ensure fish enter the marine phase in better condition and that welfare is safeguarded throughout production. The institute stresses that cooperation with the aquaculture industry will be central to achieving this, and that interviews and surveys will form part of the research.

Handling of smolt is regulated under Norwegian law, which requires that interventions are kept to a minimum and carried out in ways that do not expose fish to unnecessary risk. Pumping and crowding, in particular, are subject to welfare requirements. Despite this framework, Alvestad said there is still limited knowledge of how fish are affected by current production systems.

“We know that handling is stressful for smolt, but we lack a comprehensive understanding of what actually happens to the fish throughout the production facilities we use today,” he said.

Nofima said the project intends to develop practical tools aimed at farm staff, fish health services and technology suppliers, with the aim of supporting everyday decision-making. Planned outputs from HandleWithCare include guidance to help assess fish welfare before, during and after handling, as well as practical advice on how handling operations can be planned and carried out more safely.

In addition to Nofima, the project partners include the consultancy Åkerblå, certification body DNV, the Institute of Marine Research and UiT The Arctic University of Norway. The project is funded by the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund, FHF, building on earlier research projects, including CrowdMonitor and FASTWELL, but extending the scope to cover a broader range of handling-related issues.