More documentation needed for the efficacy of cleaner fish

In a new review study, researchers from the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) and the University of Melbourne have systematically analysed published scientific studies that have tested the effectiveness of cleaner fish.

“The increasing use of cleaner fish, and the major challenges these species face in surviving and thriving in salmon cages means that we must question whether this is appropriate use of animals. For the industry to defend their use in sea cages, their efficiency and function must be substantiated by robust evidence. Our review shows that robust evidence is still lacking,” says IMR’s Tore Kristiansen.

Few representative studies

The review shows that

• the reported effect of cleaner fish on the number of salmon lice on salmon in the different studies varied greatly.
• only 11 published studies had examined lice predation in experimental setups with and without cleaner fish and in general replication was low,
• almost all studies were done in small experimental cages or tanks and only one published study was performed in large, commercial-sized cages.

“These studies are not representative of today's use of cleaner fish by the industry, where up to 200,000 salmon swim in a single cage of enormous volume and depth. Here, close contact between salmon and cleaner fish is not guaranteed, as it is in small scale tanks and cages with small volumes where promising results of the effect of cleaner fish are most often recorded,” explained researcher Frode Oppedal.

Knowledge gaps need filling

The study reveals knowledge gaps that researchers believe should be filled with further research on various topics for all species used as cleaner fish.

“First and foremost, cleaner fish must be offered an environment they can thrive and survive in. The focus should be on understanding what are the best environmental conditions and optimal densities, lice removal efficiency under different environments, and breeding of cleaner fish that are better suited for life in the cages,” says Tore Kristiansen.

“The industry is gradually gaining experience with the use of cleaner fish in commercial cages, and several farms report good results from time to time. In the future, it is important that knowledge of when cleaner fish worked well, and when they did not work well, is developed and shared, and documented in scientific studies at representative scale in commercial cages” says Frode Oppedal.

Researchers believe that there is a particular need for research on the effectiveness of several wild caught wrasse species, where many millions are used each year but there are very few studies to support their lice removal effects. Lumpfish, the species most commonly used, are also the species with the best scientifically documented effect, but here too the evidence of their effects is limited to a few locations. Research should be extended to different environments and conditions. There is also a knowledge gap for how cleaner fish work together with other preventative and control measures against lice.

Improving efficacy and welfare

The researchers behind the study believe that more targeted, knowledge-based use of cleaner fish should increase their lice-eating effect, and lessen economic, sustainability and ethical concerns about their use.

“Increased welfare for cleaner fish will likely make them better lice-eaters, but it is also absolutely necessary for the use of cleaner fish to be able to be defended both legally and ethically,” Kristiansen points out.

The study was recently published in the scientific journal Aquaculture Environment Interactions as a collaboration between researchers at the University of Melbourne and the Institute of Marine Research.