Aquaculture Welfare

Sea Lice Treatments in Salmon Farming

Sea lice infestations are the biggest welfare and economic challenge in Atlantic salmon aquaculture, and treatments themselves can cause significant welfare problems.

Key Facts

Sea lice cost the global salmon industry over GBP500m annually
Heavy infestations cause skin damage, stress and increased mortality in salmon
Chemical treatments like emamectin benzoate can cause neurological side effects
Non-medicinal treatments such as warm water baths and laser systems cause acute stress
Cleaner fish including wrasse and lumpfish are used biologically to eat lice

Welfare Considerations

Both sea lice infestation and treatment cause welfare problems for farmed salmon. Chemical treatments affect the nervous system and can impair swimming. Thermal treatments cause heat shock and burns if not precisely controlled. Mechanical removal causes physical trauma. Cleaner fish themselves often suffer in salmon cages and have poor survival rates. Preventive measures including closed containment offer longer-term solutions.

What You Can Do

Choose salmon certified to high welfare standards by the RSPCA or equivalent
Support investment in closed-containment aquaculture systems
Advocate for cleaner fish welfare standards and minimum size requirements
Ask retailers about their suppliers sea lice management policies
Consider reducing farmed salmon consumption given current welfare challenges