The bio-economic costs and benefits of improving productivity and fish welfare in aquaculture: utilizing CO₂ stripping technology in Norwegian Atlantic salmon smolt production. (Special Issue: The economic costs & benefits of fish welfare management.)

摘要

High dissolved CO₂ levels in tank water are potentially detrimental to the production and welfare of Atlantic salmon smolts in Norwegian hatcheries. A potential welfare action for reducing CO₂ levels is to deploy CO₂ stripping technology. The economic consequences of using this approach were modelled using a bio-economic decision analysis tool. Results from the model showed that farmers can improve fish welfare and their profits by utilizing CO₂ stripping technology, as costs of implementing the welfare action were less than the potential bio-economic benefits that can be achieved through improved productivity and any potential added value for improving the welfare of smolts.