Salmon Aquaculture: Cleaner Fish Welfare and Use

Overview of cleaner fish welfare in salmon farming, including lumpfish and wrasse.

Key Facts

Lumpfish and wrasse are used as biological sea lice control in salmon cages
Cleaner fish welfare has received growing attention as their use scaled rapidly
Mortality rates in cleaner fish are high and represent a significant welfare concern
Lumpfish husbandry standards are developing through research and industry guidance
Stocking ratios and feeding management affect cleaner fish welfare in salmon cages

Welfare Considerations

Cleaner fish welfare in salmon farming has emerged as a significant welfare issue as their use scaled rapidly without adequate welfare protocols. Lumpfish and wrasse are vertebrates with welfare status, and high mortality rates indicate welfare problems. Developing appropriate husbandry standards for cleaner fish is an urgent welfare priority. Research on lumpfish welfare, appropriate stocking ratios, and feeding management is producing practical guidance. Welfare of cleaner fish should be integrated into salmon welfare certification frameworks.

What You Can Do

Support development of cleaner fish welfare standards in aquaculture certification
Advocate for welfare obligations for cleaner fish in salmon farming regulation
Choose salmon from certified operations with documented cleaner fish welfare standards