Farmed Salmon Cleaner Fish Welfare: Lumpfish and Wrasse

Lumpfish and wrasse are used as biological sea lice control in salmon farming, but these cleaner fish have significant welfare needs that are often overlooked in industry practice.

Key Facts

Approximately 60 million cleaner fish (lumpfish and wrasse) are used in Norwegian salmon farming annually
Cleaner fish mortality rates often exceed 50% during a production cycle
Wrasse are sentient fish with complex behaviors; lumpfish have sophisticated brain structures
Stocking density and feed quality for cleaner fish are often inadequate for their welfare
Dead cleaner fish are often not counted in salmon farm welfare reporting statistics

Welfare Considerations

Cleaner fish represent a hidden welfare problem within salmon aquaculture. These fish are introduced to reduce sea lice on salmon — a welfare problem in itself — but then often die at high rates from disease, injury, and inadequate conditions. Their welfare receives minimal regulatory attention because they are seen as a tool rather than animals with their own welfare needs. Leading producers are beginning to implement cleaner fish welfare standards including appropriate feed, adequate shelter structures, and monitoring of mortality rates. Comprehensive aquaculture welfare must include cleaner fish.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture welfare organizations calling for cleaner fish welfare standards
Ask salmon producers about their cleaner fish management and mortality rates
Advocate for regulations to include cleaner fish welfare in aquaculture licensing requirements
Support research into non-biological alternatives to cleaner fish for sea lice control
Reduce salmon consumption from producers without meaningful welfare standards