'Farmed salmon can maintain high welfare standards even during high-density maneuvers'

Precision Welfare: Science Rewrites the Rules on Salmon Crowding

NORWAY
Wednesday, May 06, 2026, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Innovative "Toolbox" and Real-Time Indicators Set to Transform Global Aquaculture Standards

The final report of the CrowdMonitor research project has challenged long-standing assumptions about aquaculture, revealing that crowding in cages and tanks is not inherently detrimental to fish welfare. According to the study, if the aquatic environment remains optimal and operations are strictly monitored to mitigate risks, farmed salmon can maintain high welfare standards even during high-density maneuvers.

The project, which concludes on May 31, 2026 , was designed to modernize the industry's understanding of fish behavior. The primary output is a comprehensive "toolbox" of operational welfare indicators ( OWIs ). These tools allow site managers to assess fish health in real-time and implement corrective measures during the most stressful phases of production.

– Crowding is the most critical step in ensuring successful welfare management of farmed fish. The findings from the project and the handbooks offer the industry completely new tools that can be used to ensure proper welfare for the fish , says Sven Martin Jørgensen , head of fish health and welfare at the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund (Fiskeri - og havbruksnæringens forskningsfond - FHF).

A Global Framework for the Industry

As part of the project's rollout, researchers published two essential manuals in 2025 detailing best practices for crowding in both tanks and cages. While the initial editions were released in English , Norwegian versions are scheduled for launch shortly to support the domestic market.

Chris Noble , Project Manager and Senior Researcher at Nofima , urges the industry to integrate these new indicators into daily operations. The recommended "toolbox" includes:

Environmental Factors: Continuous monitoring of water quality.

Visual Indicators: Behavioral patterns and group conditions observed above and below the waterline.

Health Metrics: Pre-handling data on mortality, appetite, and existing injuries.

Scientific Backing: Use of laboratory indicators, such as cortisol levels and skin integrity , to validate welfare status.

Collaborative Research and Investment

The CrowdMonitor initiative represents a massive collaborative effort between academia and the private sector. Led by Nofima , the project saw active participation from the Institute of Marine Research , Cermaq Norway AS , and Grieg Seafood AS .

The project was launched on January 15, 2020 , supported by an investment of $1,102,400 ( NOK 11,861,000 ) from FHF ( Fisheries and Aquaculture Industry Research Fund ). The findings, summarized in Nofima Report 21/2026 , are based on a combination of controlled trials and large-scale commercial testing.

Industry Engagement at Gardermoen

To ensure the practical application of these findings, researchers will host a workshop at Gardermoen on May 21, 2026. The event aims to gather feedback from industry stakeholders, fish health professionals, and regulators on the proposed framework for assessing distress levels.

By refining these assessment forms through direct industry input, the CrowdMonitor team hopes to establish a gold standard for salmon handling that balances operational efficiency with biological necessity. Registration is currently open via the official FHF.no portal.

🇯🇵 Japanese

High-precision manual printing: scientific reading manual for intensive management management

The innovative な「ツールボックス」とリアルタイムindex and the world’s breeding benchmark を変える

CrowdMonitor 's final report on research on the プロジェクトのは, breeding に关する年の仮determinationをcoverし, water environment がoptimal にprotection たれ, リスクを軽 reduce するためにoperation がThe dense monitoring of the secret, the dense monitoring of the fish, the essence of the fishに鱼の福(ウェルフェア)をlossなうものではないことを明らかにしました.

It ended on May 31, 2026. It will be completed on May 31, 2026, and it will be completed on May 31, 2026. The main product and application indicators ( OWIs ) include the "ツールボックス".これらのツールにより、On-site manager はリアルタイムで鱼のhealth statusを価し、Production The process is the best way to deal with it.

– Intensive management of fish farming is the most important and successful management of fish farming.プロジェクトの知见とハンドブックは, 鱼の性气なウェルフェアをOK The safe and secure use of the safe and the new safe is provided by the industry.であるSven Martin Jørgensen , the person responsible for the FHF 's fish hygiene and sanitation management, is responsible for this.

The industry's leading group

プロジェクトのdevelopmentの一cyclicとして、Researcherは2025にタンクとケージの両方におけるdensityのベストプラクティスをDetailsした2volumeのMustマニュアルを発行しました. First edition of English version, domestic market versionするためにノルウェーlanguage version も间もなく発 table される为定です.

Nofima 's Chris Noble 's business is based on new indicators, daily business integration, and industry promotion. Recommendation of "ツールボックス" and the following contents:

• Environmental factors: The quality of the water is poor.

• Indicators of visual inspection: the state of the water above the water and the water below the water surface.

• Health indicators: take り扱い前のmortality rate, appetite, およびexisting のwounded に关するデータ.

• Scientific pays: use ofウェルフェアのstatus を検证するための,コルチゾールレベルやcutaneous のcompletenessなどのラボ indicator.

Joint research and investment

CrowdMonitor is a large-scale joint operation between academia and private sectors. Nofima is the leading company, Marine Research Institute , Cermaq Norway AS , and Grieg Seafood AS are actively participating in the project.

このプロジェクトはStarted on January 15, 2020され、 FHF ( Aquaculture Research Fund )から1,102,400ドル（11,861,000ノルウェークローネ) investment is supported by the company. Nofima レポート21/2026にまとめられた知见は、対殟験とlarge-scale commercial trial group み合わせに记づいています.

ガルデモエンでの Industry エンゲージメント

これらの知见の実记的な応用を真実にするため、Researcher は202 On May 21, 2016, the にガルデモエンでワークショップをします was opened. The pain of painルフェアをreview価するためのproposalされた枠集团みについて, industry relations person, fish health department, fish health regulatory authority, collection purpose, and collection purpose.

これらのreview価フォームをIndustry's direct な入力によって 修行させることで、CrowdMonitorチームは、Business Efficiency and Biological Necessityのバランスをとったサケの取り扱いに关するゴールドスタンダードをestablished したいと卡えています. Log in now, the formula is FHF.no.

🇨🇳 Simplified Chinese

Precise Welfare: Scientifically Reshaping Salmon Crowding Management Rules

The innovative "toolbox" and real-time indicators will revolutionize global aquaculture standards.

The final report of the CrowdMonitor study challenged long-held assumptions in the aquaculture industry, revealing that if the aquatic environment is kept in optimal condition and the procedures are strictly monitored to reduce risks, then the crowding of fish in net cages or ponds does not inherently harm fish welfare.

The project, which will conclude on May 31, 2026 , aims to modernize the industry's understanding of fish behavior. Its primary output is a comprehensive toolkit of Operational Welfare Indicators ( OWIs ). These tools enable field managers to assess fish health in real time and take corrective action during the most stressful phases of production.

Crowding is a key step in ensuring successful welfare management of farmed fish. The project's findings and manual provide the industry with entirely new tools to ensure proper fish welfare, says Sven Martin Jørgensen, Head of Fish Health and Welfare at FHF .

Global framework of the industry

As part of the project's promotion, researchers published two essential handbooks in 2025 , detailing best practices for the crowding of aquaculture ponds and net cages. While the initial editions were published in English , Norwegian versions will be released soon to support the Norwegian domestic market .

Chris Noble, Nofima Project Manager and Senior Researcher , urged the industry to integrate these new metrics into daily operations. The suggested "toolbox" includes:

• Environmental factors: Continuous monitoring of water quality.

• Visual indicators: behavioral patterns and group conditions observed above and below the water surface.

• Health indicators: pretreatment mortality, appetite, and existing injury data.

• Scientific support: Use laboratory indicators such as cortisol levels and skin integrity to verify welfare status.

Collaborative research and investment

The CrowdMonitor initiative represents a significant collaborative effort between academia and the private sector. The project is led by Nofima , with active participation from the Institute of Oceanography , Cermaq Norway AS , and Grieg Seafood AS .

The project was launched on January 15, 2020 , and received investment support of US$1,102,400 ( NOK 11,861,000 ) from the FHF ( Fund for Research in Fisheries and Aquaculture ) . The findings included in Nofima Report 21/2026 are based on a combination of controlled trials and large-scale commercial testing.

Gallermoun's industry involvement

To ensure the practical application of these findings, researchers will host a workshop in Gallemoun on May 21, 2026. This event aims to gather feedback from industry participants, fish health professionals, and regulatory agencies on a framework for assessing distress levels and welfare recommendations during distress.

By refining these assessment forms based on direct industry input, the CrowdMonitor team aims to establish a gold standard for salmon handling that strikes a balance between operational efficiency and biological requirements. Registration is currently available through the official FHF.no portal.

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