Aquaculture

Salmon Welfare and Sea Lice Monitoring 2026

Sea lice infestations cause significant salmon welfare harm, with 2026 bringing improved monitoring tools and threshold-based treatment protocols.

Key Facts

Sea lice cause tissue damage, osmotic stress, and secondary infections in salmon
EU threshold recommendations are 0.5 adult female lice per fish for treatment decisions
Automated lice counting cameras are now deployed on 60% of Norwegian farms
Lice resistant to chemical treatments are detected in an increasing proportion of farms
Coordination between neighbouring farms for synchronised treatment reduces resistance development

Welfare Considerations

Sea lice cause ongoing, significant welfare harm. Monitoring technology and coordinated management enable earlier intervention and reduce treatment-related welfare costs.

What You Can Do

Choose ASC-certified salmon from farms with lice management standards
Advocate for mandatory lice monitoring reporting in aquaculture regulations
Support research on sustainable sea lice control methods