Aquaculture Wrasse Welfare as Cleaner Fish

Wrasse are used in salmon farming to eat sea lice, but their own welfare is poorly protected. These cleaner fish have significant welfare needs that the salmon industry is only beginning to address.

Key Facts

An estimated 55 million wrasse are used annually in Norwegian salmon farms to control sea lice
Wrasse are caught wild from coastal waters and transported to salmon farms where mortality is high
First-year mortality rates for wrasse in salmon farms can exceed 50% in poorly managed operations
Wrasse require specific shelter, temperature, and social conditions that sea cages rarely provide
Wild wrasse populations in some regions are showing signs of overexploitation from collection pressure
Captive-bred wrasse have better survival rates than wild-caught fish but welfare challenges remain

Welfare Considerations

Wrasse welfare in salmon farming is a significant concern that has been largely overlooked as the salmon industry focused on sea lice solutions. Hundreds of millions of wrasse die annually in salmon farms under conditions inadequate for their welfare needs. The welfare case for addressing cleaner fish welfare is strong — these animals are vertebrates with welfare-relevant needs, and their poor treatment represents a welfare cost imposed to solve another welfare problem. Industry investment in welfare standards for cleaner fish is urgently needed.

What You Can Do

Support salmon welfare certifications that include cleaner fish welfare requirements
Advocate for regulatory requirements for wrasse welfare standards in salmon farming
Donate to aquaculture welfare research on cleaner fish welfare and alternatives
Reduce farmed salmon consumption to lower demand for intensive production requiring cleaner fish
Support development of non-biological sea lice control alternatives that reduce cleaner fish use