Creating value
2013
nofima.no
32
partners:
The Norwegian Veterinary Insti-
tute, UMB School of Economics
and Business, SalmoBreed
Financed by:
The Research Council
of Norway
In the long term, the salmon farming industry can profit by considering ethical values in breeding programmes, by enhancing its reputation.
photo: Kjell J. Merok © nofima
As part of the Breedwell project scientists from Nofima,
amongst others, have asked Norwegian households
about the value of fish welfare and which welfare traits
are most important. In an internet survey, a representa-
tive section of 770 members of Norwegian households
were asked how much additional tax they were willing
to pay annually to ensure Norwegian salmon is bred for
various traits that improve fish welfare.
It was a hypothetical question, but the responses
provided the scientists an indication of how important
Norwegians think fish welfare is, and which traits are
most important. Salmon breeding programmes currently
focus on increased weight, fillet quality, health and the
ability to resist salmon lice.
The survey participants could choose between the
following four traits:
- ability to resist salmon lice
- ability to resist infectious diseases
- less aggressiveness to avoid injuries
- fewer fish with deformities
The “ability to resist salmon lice” scored highest,
followed by the “ability to resist infectious diseases”.
All the respondents were willing to pay extra tax to
improve these traits genetically.
Why salmon lice?:
“A possible explanation for why
people regard salmon lice and infectious diseases as
most important may be that breeding for these traits
can reduce the use of medicine in fish farming, increase
fish welfare and reduce the spread of lice to wild salm-
on”, says Project Manager Hanne Marie Nielsen.
The survey coincided with salmon lice gaining consid-
erable media attention, which may have made people
especially aware of salmon lice.
In order to find how much weight to place on traits
when selecting fish, the scientists generally calculate
the extra profit obtained by a fish farmer by improving a
trait. Because ethical values of fish welfare are not priced
in the market, they asked about willingness to pay tax to
support breeding programmes for increased fish welfare.
The majority of Norwegian households regard resistance to salmon lice
as the most important welfare trait in commercial breeding programmes.
Resisting lice is top priority
