Aquatic Animals

Salmon Lice and Aquaculture Health Management

Farmed salmon suffer from sea lice infestations and the chemical treatments used against them, creating complex welfare tradeoffs in open-net aquaculture.

Key Facts

Sea lice infestations affect virtually all open-net salmon farms globally
Lice cause skin lesions, hemorrhaging, and secondary infections in salmon
Treatments including hydrogen peroxide cause acute thermal shock
Farmed salmon stocking densities can reach 60 kg of fish per cubic meter

Welfare Considerations

Sea lice are a major welfare crisis in salmon farming. They feed on salmon skin and mucus, creating open wounds that are painfully sensitive. Chemical and mechanical treatments cause additional stress. Closed-containment aquaculture systems eliminate lice problems entirely but require higher capital investment that industry has been slow to make.

What You Can Do

Choose salmon certified by higher welfare standards requiring closed-containment testing
Support regulations requiring transition to closed-containment salmon farming
Reduce farmed salmon consumption or choose more sustainable alternatives
Donate to organizations advocating for salmon welfare reform