The welfare impacts of sea lice management methods in Atlantic salmon aquaculture.
Sea lice management represents one of the most complex welfare challenges in salmon aquaculture, as both infestation and treatment impose welfare costs on fish. Heavy lice burdens cause chronic pain and immune suppression, while thermal and chemical treatments for lice removal cause acute stress and occasional mortality. The development of non-chemical management strategies including physical barriers, selective breeding for resistance, and biological control using cleaner fish represents genuine welfare progress. However, cleaner fish welfare is itself an emerging concern requiring attention.