Lumpfish are increasingly used as biological sea lice control in salmon farms, but their own welfare in this role has received insufficient attention.
Lumpfish welfare has been largely ignored in the push to reduce chemical sea lice treatments, creating a situation where one species' welfare is sacrificed for another's. High mortality rates indicate systemic welfare failure across the industry. Lumpfish are curious, active fish with complex behavioural needs — prolonged confinement with aggressive salmon in environments unsuitable for their thermal and oxygen requirements creates acute welfare problems. Better lumpfish husbandry protocols and harvest timing are urgent welfare priorities.