Mmmmm!!!! Enjoy Your "Responsibly Farmed" Salmon, Now With 1,550% More Sea Lice!!

[Jirel]

4. Do I care?

It sounds gross, but it really isn’t. The ocean is full of parasites. The sea lice are the largest source of protein in the ocean as larvae. Yes, they can kill fish in a later life stage when overpopulated, ergo the rules about farmed salmon. If you let them overproliferate, they’ll be a major problem to farmed and wild salmon nearby, and salmon farms can be a source for basically an epidemic, if farmed fish escape.

But gross? No. They don’t go inside the fish. They’re just another crustacean on the outside. Extra protein is fine - it’s only the risk they pose to wild fish near the farms that’s a problem.