A: This is a risk, so several mitigating measures can be taken to prevent escapes, including: Install primary and secondary barriers at land-based facilities; Train personnel to monitor equipment closely when transferring fish; Protect salmon at sea with ultra-high density polymer primary net; Use secondary 'predator nets' below and above the water line.
A: There are no resident populations of Atlantic salmon in the southern hemisphere. To further reduce risk, salmon raised on the farm can either be all female, or 'triploids' (three chromosomes for every pair, and thereby infertile).
A: It's vital for farmers to raise fish in healthy locations. This can be achieved by: Avoiding sensitive areas; Locating in strong tides; Feeding with underwater cameras; Monitor the ocean bottom at regular intervals; Rotate and fallow farms to allow for natural regeneration; Regulatory limits for benthic (ocean bottom) biodiversity.
A: After about 7 years of operation, Unity Marine business activities are expected to generate additional revenues of about £26m for the Falkland Islands Government.
A: There are dozens of skilled positions required to run an aquaculture business. Some of these careers will include: general trades, human resources, fish technicians, scuba diving, biologists, and maritime specialists.
A: The business of aquaculture requires a wide variety of local support and services, such as food and supplies, transport, fuel, trades, and biological monitoring.
A: Like humans, we can protect salmon health with effective vaccines. It's also important to minimise stress on fish wherever possible by giving them lots of space to swim, providing them ample and healhty feeds and good water conditions, and keeping them safe from predators.
A: Whether animals or humans, there is a small portion of the population that may suffer from physical ailments or illness. With veterinarian oversight, great care is taken to either cure the issue or, in some cases, humanely euthanise an affected fish.
A: Salmon farming uses relatively little medicines to treat for illness – rather relying on vaccines and good husbandry to keep the populations healthy. If required, medicinal treatments are applied with veterinary approval. In Britain, a recent independent report [1] shows that salmon farms use very little antibiotics on a small percentage of farms.
A: Fish farmers are very keen to make sure they don't waste feed for two important reasons: (1) They won't be able to continue operating if they fail to meet strict impact standards, and (2) Feed is the most expensive part of farming fish. All pens will be equipped with underwater cameras to reduce/eliminate feed waste, and independent biologists will regularly monitor the ocean floor to ensure impact meets science-driven regulations.
A: While that used to be the case over a decade ago, today salmon feed formulas use mostly plant-based ingredients. Most common feeds now contain less than 25% raw marine ingredients (e.g. anchovy and sardine) and are now 'net producers' of fish protein. In other words, it can take less than 1 kilogram of wild fish to grow a kilogram of salmon.
* Supplements includes vitamins, minerals, amino acids and yeast derivatives
Source: Mowi Annual Report 2025 [2]
1 – RUMA (Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance). (2025). RUMA Targets Task Force Report 2025. https://www.ruma.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/RUMA-TTF-Report-2025-FINAL-18-November.pdf
2 – Mowi ASA. (2025). Mowi Annual Report 2025. https://mowi.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Mowi-Annual-Report-2025.pdf