Aquaculture Welfare: Parasite Control Beyond Chemicals

Moving beyond chemical treatments for aquaculture parasites requires investment in biological control, selective breeding, management practices and novel technologies.

Key Facts

Chemical resistance to treatments including emamectin benzoate is increasing in salmon lice globally
Non-chemical approaches include selective breeding for lice resistance, laser systems and cleaner fish
Hydrolicer and Thermolicer equipment removes lice mechanically but causes handling stress
Freshwater treatments (Stingray, Thermolicer variants) can reduce lice loads with careful welfare management
Integration of multiple approaches (integrated pest management) reduces reliance on any single method

Welfare Considerations

The welfare implications of parasite control span from the direct harm of parasites on fish welfare to the side effects of treatments. Chemical treatments stress fish and damage non-target species. Mechanical treatments cause handling stress. Cleaner fish face their own welfare challenges. An integrated approach that minimises total welfare burden across all species involved is the most responsible framework.

What You Can Do

Support research into welfare-friendly parasite control for aquaculture
Choose salmon from operations that demonstrate reduced chemical treatment use
Advocate for integrated pest management standards in aquaculture certification
Learn about the ecology of salmon lice and why resistance to treatments develops