In February, the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) launched its annual risk review for Norwegian aquaculture. In the review, one of the many important aspects they cover is the environmental effect of substances used for bath-treatments of sea lice. In the report, they find that the substances used in our product portfolio has a low probability of serious effects on non-target species in the way they are administered. Other substances assessed were found to have a “moderate” to “high” probability of serious effects on non-target species. We are proud to work with fantastic fish farmers to continuously improve the sustainability of aquaculture.

Benchmark is the market-leading supplier of medicines for bath treatments of sea lice in Norway, with products containing either Azamethiphos or Imidacloprid as the active ingredient. These products are supporting fish farmers to control the sea lice situation in their fish stocks, across Norway.

For many years, the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) has annually been assessing the risk of a range of different parameters in Norwegian aquaculture, such as mortality in production and environmental effects of discharges. One of the parameters is “risk connected to reduced survivability of non-target species when conducting medicinal treatments in aquaculture”, which is assessed for Norway and per production area. The latest report is available in full at IMR’s website, in Norwegian: https://www.hi.no/hi/nettrapporter/rapport-fra-havforskningen-2024-4

Imidacloprid is the active substance in Benchmarks Ectosan® Vet product. This product is utilized in conjunction with CleanTreat®, our system for purifying treatment water. The contribution CleanTreat® is very important when assessing the environmental risk, as Ectosan® Vet cannot be administered without a valid purification method. IMR concludes that for Norway as a whole, Imidacloprid represents a low probability of serious effects on non-target species, both in the winter and summer half of the year. For the individual production areas, the probability was also concluded to be low for every production area the product was utilized.

Azamethiphos is the active substance in Benchmarks Salmosan® Vet product. IMR concludes that for Norway as a whole, Azamethiphos represents a low probability of serious effects on non-target species, both in the winter and summer half of the year. For the individual production areas, the probability was concluded to be low for every production area the product was utilized.

“Table 2.1” from the report: “Individual assessment of the probability of serious effects on non-target species for bath-administered pharmaceuticals”, translated below:

	Serious effects on non-target species
	Winter	Summer
Hydrogen Peroxide	Moderate	Moderate
Azamethiphos	Low	Low
Deltamethrin	Moderate	High
Imidacloprid	Low	Low