Aquatic Animal Welfare

Aquaculture Parasite Management Beyond Sea Lice

Beyond sea lice, farmed fish face multiple parasitic threats including amoebic gill disease, flukes and microsporidians that cause welfare harm.

Key Facts

Amoebic gill disease caused by Neoparamoeba perurans causes severe respiratory distress in salmon
Freshwater treatment bathes are used for AGD but cause handling stress during application
Caligus sea lice differ from Lepeophtheirus and require different treatment approaches
Neoparamoeba outbreaks are increasing in frequency with warming sea temperatures
Integrated parasite management plans address multiple species with different treatment strategies

Welfare Considerations

Parasite management in aquaculture extends beyond the well-publicised sea lice issue to encompass multiple welfare-impacting organisms. Each parasite requires species-specific treatment approaches with their own welfare implications. Integrated management reduces cumulative treatment burden on fish.

What You Can Do

Support certified salmon with comprehensive parasite management welfare standards
Advocate for aquaculture regulations requiring integrated parasite management plans
Choose farmed fish from operations with documented monitoring of multiple parasite species