Aquaculture

Lumpfish Welfare as Cleaner Fish

Lumpfish are increasingly used in salmon farming as cleaner fish to consume sea lice, but face serious welfare problems including starvation, injury, and inadequate consideration of their own welfare needs.

Key Facts

Lumpfish are native North Atlantic fish used as biological lice control in salmon cages
Mortality rates in lumpfish can exceed 50% in salmon production cycles
Lumpfish welfare needs including diet, temperature, and hiding places are poorly provided
Welfare standards for cleaner fish were absent or minimal in most certification schemes until recently
New RSPCA Assured standards include cleaner fish welfare requirements

Welfare Considerations

Lumpfish welfare is an emerging issue within the already complex salmon welfare picture. Using lumpfish to improve salmon welfare while ignoring their own welfare needs is ethically inconsistent. Certification schemes are beginning to address cleaner fish welfare but standards are still inadequate.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture certification schemes that include cleaner fish welfare requirements
Advocate for research into lumpfish welfare needs and husbandry improvement
Choose ASC or RSPCA Assured salmon from farms with documented cleaner fish welfare