Lumpfish Welfare as Cleaner Fish in Atlantic Salmon Farming

Lumpfish are deployed in salmon sea cages as biological sea lice controls, but their welfare in this novel aquaculture context requires specific attention.

Key Facts

Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) eat sea lice from salmon, reducing reliance on chemical treatments
Lumpfish production has expanded dramatically to supply the Atlantic salmon industry
Mortality rates in lumpfish deployed in sea cages are very high — often 50-80% annually
They are susceptible to physical damage from net equipment, predation, and sea lice infestation themselves
Welfare standards specific to lumpfish are underdeveloped relative to their expanding use

Welfare Considerations

Lumpfish welfare in sea cages is a significant emerging concern. High mortality rates reflect inadequate attention to lumpfish needs as a distinct species from salmon. Lumpfish require different water temperature preferences, shelter from wave action, and refuge from salmon interactions. Some salmon nets cause physical entrapment and injury of lumpfish. Regulatory attention to cleaner fish welfare is growing, but standards lag far behind deployment numbers. The welfare of millions of individual lumpfish deserves specific industry attention.

What You Can Do

Support salmon certification schemes that include cleaner fish welfare standards
Ask salmon producers and retailers about lumpfish welfare mortality rates and management
Advocate for development of species-specific welfare standards for cleaner fish
Encourage research into cage design modifications that improve lumpfish survival and welfare