TOP 6 WRASSE FACTS they are the most sustain- Wester able solution to the chal- lenge of wild sea lice we are using only locally Ross wrasse caught wild wrasse; these wrasse are carefully ALL NATURAL hand-selected to pre- HEALTH CONTROL serve the breeding stock USING NO MEDICINES, for the next generation Wester Ross Fisheries Ltd. NO GMOs, NO ANTIBIOTICS of salmon farmers and to Ardmair, Ullapool minimise any by-catch of Scotland other local species Tel.: +44 1667 455 222 just 1 wrasse is able to Fax: +44 1667 459 129 tend up to 100 salmon www.wrs.co.uk ballan wrasse is the most [email protected] commonly used local @WesterRossSalmon species @WesterRossSalmo all cleaner fish are mon- @WesterRossSalmon itored by strict, external Follow #SalmonLovestory and independent regula- tory schemes such as the RSPCA Assured welfare standard all Wester Ross Salmon are completely medi- cine-free thanks to creat- ing a symbiosis of salmon and wrasse in a real-life farming environment Cleaner Fish Project Here atWester Ross we are pioneering an all-natural, sus- tainable solution to the challenge of wild sea lice through the use of cleaner fish; with excellent success so far. A few locally caught wild wrasse are introduced into the salmon pens, carefully cleaning the salmon’s skin. This symbiotic relationship benefits both parties, in the wild and on our farms; the wrasse get a tasty meal and the naturally occuring sea lice are removed from the salmon. About Cleaner Fish Wrasse Wrasse Welfare on the Wester Ross Farms Wrasse are highly effective at controlling sea lice, with Wrasse live in shallow waters all around the 1 wrasse able to tend up to 100 salmon! This all-nat- Wrasse have now become an integral British Isles; they are one of the most com- ural health control is a perfect fit with our ethos of part of our husbandry; keeping our salm- mon coastal species. Our experienced ‘Wrasse farming in harmony with the wild environment. The on healthy and helping them to thrive. Team’ fish for wrasse during warmer and calm- Ballan Wrasse is the most commonly used species. Our team has a good understanding of how er months along the coast of Loch Broom, Little wrasse live in the wild and this has helped these Loch Broom and Loch Kannaird in Wester Ross. hungry little fish to adapt to life on our salmon We use only carefully selected fish traps to farm. During the day, wrasse happily clean the minimise any by-catch of other local species. salmon and enjoy the waters of Wester Ross, at Our team selects acceptable sizes only, re- night, they sleep and rest in little shelters especial- turning the smallest and the largest to the sea ly designed and built for this purpose. There are to maintain a sustainable wild supply for the times when there are not enough wild lice to eat; next generation of salmon farmers. We need that’s when the hardworking wrasse can be of- to preserve the breeding stock and help to fered a supplementary naturally sourced local diet. protect local stocks for future generations. Sea Lice Sea lice are naturally occuring wild para- sites of salmon, sea trout and pelagic species. Each wild salmon returning from the sea carries an average of 8 adult female sea lice. Scottish salm- on farmers voluntarily aim to keep lice levels bel- low 1 adult female per fish (July to January) and 0.5 adult female per fish (February to June) to minimise any potential impact on wild salmon and sea trout.