Aquatic Animals

Salmon Lice and Aquaculture Welfare

Sea lice infestations are a major welfare and environmental problem in Atlantic salmon aquaculture.

Key Facts

Sea lice eat the flesh of salmon, causing wounds and osmotic stress
Treatments include chemical baths and mechanical removal — both stressful
A single infested farm can produce lice that devastate wild salmon populations
Lice management accounts for over 30% of salmon production costs in Norway

Welfare Considerations

Sea lice represent one of the most significant welfare challenges in salmon farming. Infestations cause tissue damage, osmotic stress, and secondary infections. Treatment methods — chemical baths, warm water treatments, and mechanical removal — cause their own acute welfare harms. Closed containment systems eliminate the problem but have higher production costs.

What You Can Do

Support salmon from certified high-welfare farms with lice management data
Advocate for transition to closed containment aquaculture systems
Reduce Atlantic salmon consumption given persistent welfare challenges
Support research into biological lice control alternatives