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High-tech and conventional methods for sea lice control
Salmon industry ďŹ ghting its most persistent problem ScaleAQ
Parasitic sea lice or, to use the simpler and more common term “salmon liceâ€?, are a problem for salmon farms all over the world. Great efforts are being made to ďŹ nd a control method that meets the requirements of salmon farming, is environmentally friendly, and also suits consumer demands for food safety. The current strategies for sea lice control alleviate the problem but do not provide complete protection.
The Thermolicer makes use of the sea louse’s low tolerance of sudden changes in water temperature. Infested fish are placed in a lukewarm bath for a few seconds which eliminates between 75% and 100% of the parasites.
S
ea lice are a bane for salmon aquaculture and a real challenge for parasitologists. Salmon farms are in a constant struggle against the onslaught of naturally occurring
parasites. Anyone who slackens their controls for just a few days usually has a high price to pay because the invasive mobile ectoparasitic copepods can infest the fish population very
quickly. The sea lice settle on the fishes’ scales and feed on their tissue, mucus and blood, which endangers the well-being and health of the host. The salmon become chronically stressed,
they lose their appetites and no longer thrive, and the skin that is damaged by the lice can become inflamed. Bleeding and oedema often occur, the immune system of the fish is weakened, and
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