Aquaculture

Salmon Lice Biological Control Welfare

Cleaner fish including wrasse and lumpfish provide biological sea lice control in salmon farming. Their own welfare as working animals is an emerging welfare concern.

Key Facts

Approximately 50 million cleaner fish are deployed annually in Norwegian salmon farming alone
Wrasse and lumpfish eat sea lice off salmon, providing effective biological control
Cleaner fish mortality rates in sea cages are high, with annual losses of 50-80% in some operations
Cleaner fish welfare requirements including shelter, appropriate density, and food provision are often unmet
Several countries have developed specific welfare guidelines for cleaner fish but implementation varies

Welfare Considerations

Cleaner fish occupy an unusual welfare position - they are deployed as a biological tool for sea lice control, but they are sentient animals whose welfare matters independently. High mortality rates, inadequate shelter, and inappropriate stocking represent significant welfare failures. The most welfare-positive biological control approach prioritizes cleaner fish welfare through appropriate husbandry, reducing both their suffering and their loss rates.

What You Can Do

Support certification schemes requiring cleaner fish welfare standards in salmon operations
Advocate for mandatory welfare standards for cleaner fish deployed in aquaculture
Choose salmon from operations with documented cleaner fish welfare protocols
Support research into cleaner fish welfare needs and improved husbandry standards