Aquaculture Welfare

Farmed Salmon Sea Lice Biological Control

Biological control of sea lice using cleaner fish represents a welfare-conscious alternative to chemical treatments, but itself raises welfare concerns.

Key Facts

Lumpfish and wrasse are the primary cleaner fish species used
Cleaner fish are often raised with inadequate welfare standards
Lice burdens above treatment thresholds cause skin damage in salmon
Cleaner fish suffer high mortality rates in sea cages
Integrated management combines biological and chemical approaches

Welfare Considerations

Sea lice cause pain and skin damage in salmon, making control essential. However, the welfare of cleaner fish - often wild-caught or farmed with minimal standards - deserves equal consideration. A system that solves one welfare problem by creating another is not a genuine improvement.

What You Can Do

Support research into cleaner fish welfare standards
Advocate for welfare requirements for all species in aquaculture systems
Choose salmon certified to standards that include cleaner fish welfare
Encourage development of non-animal biological lice control alternatives