Aquaculture

Farmed Salmon Lice Management

Sea lice infestations are a major welfare and environmental problem in Atlantic salmon aquaculture, causing pain and tissue damage to fish.

Key Facts

Sea lice pierce salmon skin and feed on mucus and blood
Heavy infestations cause open wounds and secondary infections
Mechanical treatments like warm-water baths stress fish significantly
Chemical treatments can harm wild salmonids in surrounding waters

Welfare Considerations

Sea lice cause measurable pain responses in salmon, including increased cortisol, reduced feeding and altered swimming behaviour. Treatment methods themselves impose stress: mechanical removal involves rapid temperature changes; chemical treatments can cause gill damage. The welfare burden is substantial across the industry.

What You Can Do

Choose certified salmon where lice management practices are disclosed
Support research into selective breeding for lice resistance
Advocate for cleaner fish (wrasse/lumpfish) welfare standards
Urge retailers to require lice burden reporting from suppliers