Wildlife Welfare

Wild Salmon Lice Monitoring Welfare

Sea lice from farmed salmon represent a welfare and conservation threat to wild salmon and sea trout. Monitoring and management of farm lice loads protects wild fish welfare.

Key Facts

Sea lice from salmon farms can infest wild salmon and sea trout in coastal areas
High lice loads cause skin damage, stress, and secondary infection in wild fish
Norway and Scotland have regulatory lice thresholds for salmon farms
Wild fish welfare impact varies with farm proximity and prevailing currents
Monitoring wild fish lice loads provides evidence for regulatory intervention

Welfare Considerations

Wild salmon and sea trout welfare is affected by sea lice from farms, causing skin damage and secondary infection. Robust regulation of farm lice loads based on wild fish welfare monitoring reduces this harm.

What You Can Do

Support wild fish welfare monitoring programmes near salmon farms
Advocate for science-based sea lice regulation in salmon farming areas
Learn about the interaction between farmed salmon lice and wild fish welfare
Support sustainable seafood certification that includes wild fish welfare criteria