Potential ecological and economic impacts of sea lice from farmed salmon on wild salmon fisheries

► We examine possible ecological and economic effects of sea lice from salmon farms on wild salmon populations and fisheries. ► We develop a bioeconomic model to include farm-derived sea lice mortality into an age-structured population dynamic model. ► Effects are minor when sea lice induced mortality rate is < 20%, while they can be severe if the mortality is > 30%. ► Sea lice have greater ecological and economic impacts on pink salmon than on chum salmon. ► The impact is greater under a fixed exploitation rate policy than under a target escapement policy.