Marine

Wild Wrasse Cleaner Fish Welfare in Salmon Farming

Wild-caught wrasse are used as cleaner fish in salmon farms to control sea lice. Their welfare in sea cage conditions has become a significant welfare concern requiring improved standards.

Key Facts

Around 50 million wild wrasse are removed from UK coastal waters annually for salmon farms
Wrasse are highly site-faithful - removal disrupts coastal reef ecosystems
Welfare in sea cages is poor - wrasse are adapted for rocky reefs, not open water
Lumpfish are also used as cleaner fish, with different but equally significant welfare concerns

Welfare Considerations

Wrasse welfare in salmon farms requires provision of reef-like structure, appropriate temperature (wrasse cease feeding below 8 degrees Celsius), and protection from salmon aggression. Moving toward lumpfish hatchery production reduces wild capture pressure.

What You Can Do

Choose salmon from producers with published cleaner fish welfare policies
Support research into welfare-positive cleaner fish alternatives including selective lice removal
Advocate for quotas on wild wrasse capture and transition to hatchery-reared fish