Live-Fish Carrier (Well Boat)

A live-fish carrier, or well boat, transports live fish in flooded onboard tanks (wells) with circulated, oxygenated, and temperature-controlled seawater, mainly moving farmed salmon smolts to sea cages and harvest-size fish to processing. Modern wellboats run closed or filtered circulation to limit sea-lice and pathogen transfer, and some carry freshwater or hydrogen-peroxide treatment systems for delousing. The largest serve Norwegian, Scottish, and Chilean salmon farms. Fish welfare during transport falls under national aquaculture and animal-welfare rules; Norway regulates wellboat operation through the Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet).