Atlantic Salmon Federation and NASF launch salmon.info to centralise peer-reviewed criticism of open-net pens.
Two wild salmon advocacy groups have launched a new website compiling scientific research critical of open-net pen salmon farming.
The Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) and the North Atlantic Salmon Fund (NASF) say their new platform, salmon.info, is designed to serve as a resource for journalists, policymakers, and the public seeking to understand what they describe as the “harmful effects” of salmon farming.
The site draws on over 300 peer-reviewed studies and includes an AI assistant trained to search the database and provide plain-language summaries. Topics covered range from fish mortality and feed conversion ratios to the impact of sea lice and escapees on wild salmon populations.
“The salmon farming industry claims to be one of the most sustainable proteins on the planet with minimal environmental impact,” said Neville Crabbe, executive director of communications at ASF. “Our goal for salmon.info is to provide accurate, accessible information on things the salmon farming industry doesn’t talk about so that consumers who are eating farmed salmon are informed.”
Background and controversy
ASF, based in New Brunswick, Canada, is one of the most prominent conservation organisations focused on wild Atlantic salmon. The group has long been critical of the salmon farming sector, and has clashed with industry players in the past.
The North Atlantic Salmon Fund, headquartered in Iceland, is a long-standing partner of ASF. It is best known for negotiating commercial fishing buyouts to protect wild salmon and advocating for stricter aquaculture controls across North Atlantic countries.
“For too long, the public has heard only one side of the story when it comes to farmed salmon,” said Ian Huschle, board member of NASF. “With salmon.info, we now have a single, accessible platform that brings together the best available science to help journalists, policymakers, and concerned citizens understand the full impact of open-net pen salmon farming.”