Aquaculture

Wrasse Welfare as Cleaner Fish in Salmon Farming

Wrasse species are used as cleaner fish in Atlantic salmon farming to control sea lice, but their welfare needs raise serious concerns about their use as biological tools.

Key Facts

Ballan wrasse and goldsinny wrasse are the main species used
Wild-caught wrasse are placed in salmon cages to graze sea lice
Wrasse are not adapted to open-ocean cage conditions
High mortality rates in salmon cages raise significant welfare concerns
Farmed wrasse suffer from unresolved welfare challenges related to stress and disease

Welfare Considerations

Wrasse welfare in salmon farming is poorly understood and inadequately protected. Wild-caught individuals experience capture stress and introduction to an alien environment. Mortality rates can be extremely high. The welfare cost of using wild wrasse as biological tools without species-appropriate care is a serious concern.

What You Can Do

Support salmon producers investing in wrasse welfare research
Ask retailers about cleaner fish welfare at suppliers
Advocate for mandatory wrasse welfare standards in salmon farming
Support alternative sea lice control methods
Follow Aquaculture Stewardship Council work on cleaner fish welfare