Aquatic

Sea Lice and Atlantic Salmon Welfare

Sea lice infestations are among the most significant welfare challenges in Atlantic salmon aquaculture, causing pain, skin damage, and systemic stress.

Key Facts

Lepeophtheirus salmonis is the most damaging sea louse species affecting farmed salmon
Heavy infestations cause open lesions on the head and back of salmon
Chemical treatments for sea lice can cause significant physiological stress
Biological controls using cleaner fish such as wrasse are increasingly used
Wild salmon passing through areas near farms face elevated lice challenge

Welfare Considerations

Sea lice attach to the skin, mucus, and underlying tissue of salmon, causing chronic pain and immune stress. Treatment with mechanical methods such as warm water or freshwater can cause additional welfare impacts including scale loss and physiological shock. Developing effective prevention and low-impact control methods is a major priority for salmon welfare.

What You Can Do

Support research into sea lice prevention and welfare-positive treatments
Choose certified farmed salmon from producers with documented lice management
Advocate for siting regulations that reduce lice risk to wild salmon populations
Support development of selective breeding for sea lice resistance in salmon
Encourage investment in land-based closed containment aquaculture