Aquaculture

Farmed Salmon Cleaner Fish Welfare

Wrasse and lumpfish used as cleaner fish to control sea lice in salmon farms are themselves farmed animals with welfare needs requiring specific attention.

Key Facts

Approximately 50 million cleaner fish are deployed in Norwegian salmon farms annually
Wrasse and lumpfish are wild-caught or hatch-reared with different welfare implications
Cleaner fish mortality rates are high, with some studies showing 90%+ annual mortality
They are transported and deployed into marine environments for which some species are not adapted
Lumpfish are more cold-adapted than wrasse and show better survival in Norwegian fjords

Welfare Considerations

The welfare of cleaner fish has been largely overlooked in sea lice management. These are sentient fish used as a biological tool, often with inadequate welfare consideration. Reducing sea lice through prevention eliminates the welfare cost of cleaner fish deployment.

What You Can Do

Support research into sea lice management that reduces cleaner fish dependency
Advocate for welfare standards specifically addressing cleaner fish care and mortality
Choose salmon from producers committed to minimising cleaner fish mortality
Learn about cleaner fish welfare as a component of the salmon welfare picture