Swiss salmon farm faces backlash over fish welfare concerns

A new salmon farm planned for Mollis in the canton of Glarus is facing opposition from animal welfare group Fair-Fish. The 180 million Swiss franc project, led by Swiss Blue Salmon, aims to raise 1.5 million fish in a closed-loop system—but critics warn of welfare risks and potential mass die-offs.

Swiss Blue Salmon intends to build the facility near the former Weesen railway station in St. Gallen, close to a highway. The farm would create 50 jobs and raise salmon over two years without antibiotics. However, Fair-Fish has formally objected, citing concerns over extreme overcrowding and stress for the fish.

The system, designed to hold up to 1.5 million salmon, relies on recirculating aquaculture technology. Fair-Fish claims such facilities are prone to catastrophic failures, leading to large-scale fish deaths. They also argue that confined spaces cause chronic stress and boredom for the animals. Switzerland currently has no operational salmon farms using closed-loop, antibiotic-free systems. All existing or planned projects remain experimental or unconfirmed. Swiss Blue Salmon has stated it is open to discussions with Fair-Fish to address the concerns raised.

The objection from Fair-Fish now puts the project under scrutiny. If approved, the farm would be the first of its kind in Switzerland. The outcome will determine whether large-scale, antibiotic-free salmon farming can proceed under current welfare standards.