Aquatic Animals

Salmon Parasite Welfare

Sea lice parasites on farmed salmon cause significant welfare problems while their treatment raises additional concerns for both target and non-target species.

Key Facts

Sea lice cause open wounds on salmon that can expose underlying tissue
Untreated infestations can be fatal especially in young salmon
Mechanical treatments including freshwater and thermal treatments cause additional stress
Cleaner fish including wrasse and lumpsuckers used for biological control have high mortality rates

Welfare Considerations

Sea lice infestations cause genuine suffering in farmed salmon through skin damage, immune suppression, and secondary infections. The treatments used to control lice create additional welfare problems through stress, injury, and mortality. Cleaner fish added for biological control have poor welfare and very high mortality rates. Closed containment aquaculture that prevents sea lice offers a fundamental welfare solution.

What You Can Do

Choose salmon from closed-containment producers where sea lice are not a problem
Support transition from open net pen to closed containment salmon farming
Advocate for welfare standards covering both salmonids and cleaner fish
Reduce farmed salmon consumption or choose wild-caught alternatives