Published 15.01.2021

The use of cleaner fish in Norway's aquaculture industry presents a serious animal welfare and ecological challenge, warn both experts and environmental organizations. The cleaner fish, which traditionally plays an important role in nature, die in large numbers in fish farms, and the extraction from the coast causes damage to the marine ecosystem. Norges Miljøvernforbund demands an immediate phase-out of cleaner fish in the aquaculture industry to protect both animal welfare and biodiversity.

The use of cleaner fish as lice eaters in Norway's aquaculture industry is a serious animal welfare issue, and there is growing concern about the long-term consequences for both the fish themselves and the marine ecosystem. In a report from the Council for Animal Ethics (RFD), dated December 20, 2020, the challenges related to the role of cleaner fish in fish farms were highlighted. According to RFD, these challenges include high mortality, poor animal welfare, and uncertainty about the effectiveness of cleaner fish as lice eaters. They also express concern about how wild capture, production, and transport of cleaner fish affect the local fauna.

The Council for Animal Ethics believes that the use of millions of cleaner fish each year in fish farms is neither ethical nor justifiable, and recommends that their use should be limited until necessary measures to improve animal welfare and survival are documented. Furthermore, it is emphasized that even under optimal conditions, it cannot be justified to use cleaner fish at the same levels as today.

A tragic fate for the wrasse

NMF has long advocated for a complete phase-out of cleaner fish in the aquaculture industry. In 2019, over 50 million cleaner fish died in Norwegian fish farms, and the number is increasing. Cleaner fish, which can normally live up to 25 years in the wild, die 100% during an 18-month production cycle. The high mortality rate is due to diseases, stress, and the harsh conditions in fish farms. Those that survive until slaughter are removed along with the salmon to prevent the spread of disease.

Cleaner fish, also known as wrasse, are crucial for the marine ecosystem. The species used in fish farms, such as lumpfish, ballan wrasse, and green wrasse, act as "the ocean's vacuum cleaners," picking off lice and parasites from wild fish. This helps maintain balance in nature, particularly by preventing parasites from proliferating among wild fish.

NMF expresses concern that the extraction of cleaner fish from coastal areas is causing harm to the natural ecosystem. When cleaner fish are removed in large quantities for use in the aquaculture industry, parasites like sea lice and other diseases are given more freedom to affect wild fish species such as cod and pollock. In several cases, NMF has received images of cod and other wild fish covered in lice, which they believe is clearly linked to the removal of wrasse.

Cleaner fish also play an important role in the coastal environment by controlling populations of benthic organisms such as snails and shellfish, and they are a key food source for coastal cod. Coastal cod are already in decline, largely due to changes in the coastal environment caused by the aquaculture industry. In 2019, around 28 million wrasse were caught for use in aquaculture facilities, an extraction that has further worsened the situation for coastal cod.

Uncontrolled extraction: A risky practice

There is still uncertainty about how native the cleaner fish are, but there is strong suspicion that they are relatively stationary. This may have caused significant ecological imbalances in areas where extraction has been extensive. Uncontrolled fishing of a key species, vital for maintaining the ecological balance along the coast, can lead to unforeseen and serious consequences for the marine environment.

In addition, there is concern about animal welfare related to the capture methods used for cleaner fish. Traps and other fishing gear can cause severe injuries to the fish, and many fish returned to the sea after capture are exposed to infections and parasites. This increases the risk of disease spread and may further weaken the natural population of cleaner fish.

NMF is clear in its demand that the use of cleaner fish in Norwegian fish farms should cease immediately. The organization points to both animal welfare concerns, where the cleaner fish endure a slow and painful death in the pens, and the severe ecological consequences of the removal of these fish from nature. NMF believes it is high time for the authorities to take a stand in order to protect both animal welfare and marine biodiversity, which is on the brink of collapse due to the practices of the aquaculture industry.

Conclution: Ecological and ethical responsibilities

There is no doubt that cleaner fish play an important role in both the marine ecosystem and the aquaculture industry's efforts to control salmon lice. However, both animal welfare organizations' concerns and ecological studies show that the current practice is far from sustainable. NMF demands that the use of cleaner fish cease immediately, both to prevent animal tragedies in the pens and to preserve the natural balance along Norway's coastlines.

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