Aquaculture Welfare

Aquaculture Integrated Pest Management Salmon

Integrated pest management (IPM) for sea lice in salmon farming combines biological, genetic, and chemical tools to minimize lice burden with reduced treatment frequency.

Key Facts

IPM frameworks combine biological (cleaner fish), genetic, and chemical approaches
Lice threshold-based treatment decision-making replaces calendar-based treatment
Monitoring frequency determines how early treatment can be initiated
Regional coordination of fallowing and treatment reduces lice pressure across areas
IPM reduces treatment frequency and associated welfare costs

Welfare Considerations

Salmon farms managing sea lice through IPM approaches expose fish to fewer treatment events - each of which carries welfare costs. By combining biological control through cleaner fish, genetic approaches to lice tolerance, and threshold-based chemical treatment, IPM reduces the total lice burden while minimizing treatment-related welfare impacts. This represents a genuine welfare improvement over single-tool approaches.

What You Can Do

Support salmon certification that requires IPM-based lice management
Advocate for regional coordination of fallowing to reduce lice pressure
Choose certified salmon from producers using documented IPM approaches
Support research into IPM effectiveness for both welfare and lice control