Infection with the lernaeopodid copepod Clavella parva was found in gold-eye rockfish Sebastes thompsoni broodstock kept at an aquaculture institute in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan. A description of female and male adults of C. parva is given. This is the first record of C. parva from Japan and a new host record. The parasite was likely introduced to the institute by the fish that had been reared in cages kept in natural waters. No infection was observed again after manual removal of the copepods. The species occurred most abundantly on the dorsal and caudal fins, followed by the anal fin. Literary information on the geographical distribution and hosts of C. parva is reviewed.