Aquaculture Welfare

Farmed Salmon Lice Resistance Management

Growing resistance of sea lice to chemical treatments requires integrated management to maintain welfare protection as drug options decrease.

Key Facts

Resistance to pyrethroids, organophosphates, and hydrogen peroxide is documented in sea lice
Multiple treatments per fish in a cycle are now common in some regions
Biological control using cleaner fish is growing as chemical alternatives
Non-medicinal treatments including laser and high-pressure water are emerging
Resistance monitoring is essential for treatment decision making

Welfare Considerations

Growing sea lice resistance means that more treatments are needed to achieve the same level of control, increasing the welfare burden of treatment stress on salmon. The welfare challenge compounds as fewer effective chemical options remain available. Integrated pest management combining biological control, non-chemical treatments, and strategic drug use is both more welfare-conscious and more sustainable.

What You Can Do

Support sea lice resistance monitoring programmes
Advocate for integrated pest management requirements in aquaculture licensing
Choose salmon from farms using biological and non-chemical sea lice control