Lumpfish Welfare in Salmon Aquaculture: Cleaner Fish Welfare

Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) are used as cleaner fish in salmon cages to reduce sea lice, creating welfare responsibilities for this often-overlooked species.

Key Facts

Lumpfish eat sea lice off salmon, reducing the need for chemical treatments
Millions of lumpfish are produced and used annually in Norwegian salmon aquaculture
Their welfare is often secondary to their function as a pest control tool
Lumpfish have complex behavioral needs including access to shelter and resting structures
Mortality rates in deployed lumpfish are often high, indicating welfare compromise

Welfare Considerations

Lumpfish welfare in salmon cages has received increasing scientific attention as the scale of their use became clear. Lumpfish deployed in salmon cages experience high mortality from salmon aggression, sea lice infestation (ironically), and the harsh conditions of large sea cages. Their behavioral needs — including access to shelter, resting structures, and appropriate feeding — are often unmet in commercial deployments. Species-specific welfare assessment shows lumpfish are sentient fish capable of experiencing stress and pain. Improved cage designs with shelter, appropriate light, and lumpfish-specific feeding improve welfare outcomes. Alternatives to cleaner fish use are under development.

What You Can Do

Choose salmon products from farms with published cleaner fish welfare standards
Support research into lumpfish welfare needs and welfare-positive deployment practices
Advocate for mandatory welfare standards for cleaner fish in aquaculture regulations
Encourage development of non-biological alternatives to sea lice management
Raise awareness about the welfare of often-overlooked species used in food production