Salmon-friendly farming?

It is encouraging that consumers are concerned about farmed-animal welfare standards, and using their purchasing power to help farmers move away from intensive farming systems that cause suffering (your report, 4 April).

However, the belief that salmon is one of the most welfare-friendly farmed foods may be based on a number of misconceptions. While consumers are able to see animals when they are farmed on open land, salmon cages are underwater and the animals are out of sight of the public. It may be tempting to think that as salmon are farmed in water they are reared in a natural manner, but in fact this intensive system denies their migratory instincts and exposes them to a variety of stresses.

LIBBY ANDERSON

Advocates for Animals

Queensferry Street

Edinburgh