Jason Collins

Using the full Integrated Pest Management (IPM) toolbox

Effective sea lice treatment should use a holistic approach. We should take advantage of all available solutions and use them in a strategic and responsible manner.

In the last decade, we have witnessed a shift in the delousing toolbox as the industry has moved away from medicinal bath treatments. This is a result of a number of contributing factors: including resistance to medicines, the rise in use of thermal/mechanical tools, cultural tools such as cage modifications, cleaner fish and biomass manipulation (‘post smolt’ production as well as early harvests due to lice pressure). However, it has become increasingly apparent that the total number of delousing events, regardless of method, continues to climb. This is clear in Figure 1 below, which demonstrates that in Norway, medicinal treatments have markedly decreased from 2015, but the total frequency of treatment events continues to rise due to an increase in non-medicinal treatments. In my experience working in North America, I have witnessed similar trends across this market and others around the world.

As an industry, there is more to be done to deploy the full toolbox and there remains a place for medicinal bath treatments. Medicines are, rightly, highly regulated. They are granted Marketing Authorisation following a thorough assessment of their quality, safety, efficacy and environmental impact. It is only when all these criteria are addressed that any new medicine would be granted approval to go into market.

By using the right tool at the right time, taking into consideration elements such as fish size, condition and environmental factors (notably sea temperature, algae blooms, harmful jellyfish or other gill threats), we can realise improved outcomes in our sea lice management. When optimally deployed, using the full IPM toolbox allows us an opportunity to stop “firefighting” when it comes to sea lice.

Jason Collins discussed the place for therapeutic bath treatments in the modern integrated pest management toolbox at the Aquaculture Canada and WAS North America conference, Fish Health – Treatment & Therapeutants session, which took place from 15 – 18 August.

Beth Hazlett

Prioritising fish welfare and making sustainable choices

By placing fish health and welfare at the forefront of farming, we can raise stronger, healthier fish. The same is true when making decisions relating to treatments. By deploying sea lice solutions with established sustainability and welfare credentials, it can be beneficial for the industry in the long run while also having immediate benefits on fish health and condition of the end product.

As Jason covered, using the right tool at the right time is incredibly important, and we need to make these choices with welfare in mind. In the long term, aspirations towards effective rotation of delousing tools can only be realised by the continued development and collaboration of all parties. Solution providers must collaborate with producers to address challenges in a way that is sustainable and viable for the long term.

Now more than ever, new treatments and technologies need to consider how to protect the aquaculture industry of the future. Technologies such as CleanTreat®, which purify treatment water alongside removing organic material including sea lice, egg strings, fish scales and faecal matter, are an essential step in combating parasitic resistance to medicines. By protecting the tools we have now to the best of our ability, we can continue to support the longevity of the industry.

Across the aquaculture industry, we all have a part to play in continually improving environmental sustainability, alongside fish health and welfare. Through the prioritisation of fish welfare, we can ensure healthy fish which will benefit farmers, consumers and the industry as a whole.