Aquaculture Welfare

Aquaculture Cleaner Fish Welfare Standards

Lumpfish and wrasse used as cleaner fish in salmon farming deserve welfare consideration equal to the salmon they serve.

Key Facts

Over 60 million cleaner fish are used annually in Norwegian salmon farming
Lumpfish suffer high mortality rates due to inadequate welfare standards
Wild-caught wrasse face welfare challenges from removal from natural habitats
Feeding and shelter requirements for cleaner fish are poorly studied
Some certification schemes now include cleaner fish welfare requirements

Welfare Considerations

Cleaner fish are widely used as a biological lice control tool, yet their welfare has historically been an afterthought. High mortality rates suggest that welfare standards are inadequate. Treating cleaner fish welfare as a component of salmon welfare certification - rather than an externality - is a necessary step for genuine welfare improvement in salmon farming.

What You Can Do

Support salmon certification that includes cleaner fish welfare standards
Advocate for species-appropriate welfare requirements for cleaner fish
Support research into cleaner fish welfare needs and mortality causes
Choose salmon from producers with documented cleaner fish welfare protocols