9 minute read
The latest developments in lice treatment
Treatment
without stress
Innovation is the key weapon in the war to keep fi sh safe from parasites
BY ROBERT OUTRAM
Aquaculture biotech company Benchmark has welcomed the arrival of the fi rst CleanTreat vessel in Norwegian waters, ahead of its ini� al commercial deployment.
The CleanTreat water purifi ca� on system is heralded by Benchmark as a poten� al game-changer in the struggle to control sea lice. It removes the chemicals used to treat lice in a closed system on board before the water is returned to the marine environment, as well as organic ma� er such as dead lice and egg strings, and is intended to operate alongside Benchmark’s controversial Ectosan lice treatment, which was censured earlier this summer in the European Parliament.
CleanTreat and Ectosan (also known as BMK08, or generically as imidacloprid) have been cleared for commercial use in Norway a� er more than a decade of research and trials. The new vessel has a full mari� me crew as well as eight Benchmark technicians and chemists.
Trond Williksen, CEO of Benchmark, said, welcoming the arrival: “I am pleased to welcome the fi rst CleanTreat vessel in Norway. As an innova� ve aquaculture biotechnology company, we are truly excited to bring this much-needed solu� on to the vital salmon industry in Norway. It will drive sustainability and increased yields through improved animal welfare, while also protec� ng the environment. I want to thank my teams who have been working � relessly to bring this innova� ve and essen� al product to market.”
Neil Robertson, Head of Opera� ons, Benchmark Animal Health, said: “Today marks a major milestone in Benchmark’s journey to support a more sustainable aquaculture industry and create a future where no chemicals are applied directly to the sea. I am proud to fi nally see the CleanTreat® system now ready for commercial use, following over a decade of research, development and trials. We look forward to working with our customers and partners in the deployment of this innova� ve new solu� on in Norway in the coming weeks”.
Last month, the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) for Ectosan Vet was adopted into the Agreement of the European Economic Area (the EEA Agreement), and subsequently entered into Norwegian legisla� on. The MRL was previously agreed by the European Commission, but it remains to be seen whether the Commission will listen to the Parliament and withdraw its authorisa� on.
Thermal treatment is s� ll one of the main weapons against sea lice for the fi sh farmer, such as Op� mar’s Op� licer. Earlier this year Norwegian salmon farmer Alsaker Fjordbruk took delivery of the Kristoff er Tronds, a wellboat nearly 300 feet long, which houses the biggest Op� licer yet built.
Op� mar Sales Manager Per Vidar Lange says: “Kristoff er Tronds was the largest wellboat in the world when they started planning. Of course the Op� licer had to be the biggest one in the world too. We call it Op� licer Ultra.”
The Kristoff er Tronds can handle transporta� on, delousing , heat treatment and sor� ng of the fi sh on board. The Op� licer Ultra can handle 600 tons of fi sh every hour, double the capacity of the original Op� licer.
Lange explains: “The Op� licer delivered to Kristoff er Tronds also uses an RSW-system [refrigerated sea water], which makes it possible to use refrigerated sea water to cool down the
Above: CleanTreat vessel Far left: Neil RobertsonFar left: Left: CleanTreat systemLeft:
tanks. The recovered heat from engines and exhaust is used to heat the Op� licer. This is an important step in the direc� on of a more sustainable thermal delousing process.”
Project Manager with Alsaker Fjordbruk, Olav Nygård, adds: “We have already run the Op� licer on one of our loca� ons and sent 2,000 tons of fi sh through the system. The results are really good.”
Mowi Canada East also uses a Thermolicer treatment to control sea lice. While normally the process is not suitable for smaller fi sh below 500g, Mowi and its service provider, 360 Marine, have adapted the Thermolicer to treat fi sh as small as 250g.
In Mowi Canada East’s Insite newsle� er, Amanda Borchardt, Fish Health and Welfare Director, explained: “This is a real step forward for us in terms of our fi sh health programme. We have a range of tools available to us to manage the challenges presented by sea lice but in Canada East, we have found using a thermolicer to be extremely eff ec� ve. If we can treat fi sh so early in their lifecycle, then it means we are giving them the best start to grow and develop into strong healthy salmon.”
Despite the ongoing pandemic, Mowi and 360 Marine were able to adapt the Thermolicer equipment onboard 360’s vessel. Joel McGee, Technical Project Manager at Mowi, says: “360 Marine is part of a very small rural community in Newfoundland. The fact that Fabian and his team were able to step up and provide the support we need is incredible. There is great communica� on between our farm teams and the team of fi ve that 360 Marine provides to operate the vessel.”
Using a non-chemical treatment with warm or fresh water to remove sea lice can s� ll be hazardous to the fi sh, simply because handling them and moving them to and from wellboats can be very stressful. The nature of the pumps and pipes used to transfer the fi sh is crucial.
Ireland-based SeaQuest has developed a Live Fish Pump, specially designed to minimise stress. A 400mm inlet and outlet allows the pumping even of larger species without the risk of any harm.
SeaQuest says that recent vet tes� ng in Norway has shown that using this pump entails 300% less stress on the fi sh during the process compared to tradi� onal pumping processes.
The SeaQuest Live Fish Pump can be delivered with either Electric or Hydraulic drive op� ons with the main components manufactured from marine grade aluminium and all steel components are treated by shot blas� ng, metallising and then coated with several layers of marine paint.
The pump is designed to cater for all varia� ons of installa� on and the outlet can be set to eight diff erent posi� ons to allow easy installa� on to exis� ng systems.
Norwegian manufacturer Smir also produces pumps designed to minimise stress. Smir designed the Hydrolicer system and operates its own delousing vessels. Smir’s own fi sh pump, the Hydrofl ow, is specially developed to accommodate larger fi sh. The ejector pump has no moving parts and provides a gentle way of moving the fi sh through the system.
The Hydrolicer itself delouses fi sh in a closed column of water. Radial water turbulence is created, causing the lice to lose their grip on the surface before being fl ushed away. Throughout the en� re process, the fi sh are only exposed to minimal pressure varia� ons.
One of the most eff ec� ve ways to protect farmed fi sh from sea lice is simply to prevent the lice from entering the pens. Lice skirts can prevent the lice, which are generally found in the levels of water closest to the surface, from passing through.
Tom Morrow Tarpaulins, which has long experience in lice barriers, has developed a new style of freshwater screen. The company’s new screens, developed in conjunc� on with key industry partners, make use of an impermeable top layer. They aff ord the same func� onality as tradi� onal barrier screens, while also allowing the top por� on of the tank to be fi lled with freshwater for feeding and delousing.
Meanwhile, a project funded by the European
This page from top: Pulcea lab; Kristoff er Tronds; inside the Op� licer Opposite page from top: SeaQuest fi sh pump in ac� on; SeaQuest Live Fish Pump
Union is looking to develop a radical new delousing treatment based on hydrogen peroxide and sound waves.
The BREEZE project aims to bring to market a residue-free preven� on and control system for sea lice management, to contribute to increasing resistance to diseases, while increasing awareness of animal welfare and minimising environmental impact.
BREEZE is run by a consor� um comprising Aqua Pharma Group (Norway), Pulcea (UK), University of S� rling (UK) and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway).
The treatment being pioneered involves hydrogen peroxide, which breaks down harmlessly into water and oxygen during the process. Oxygen bubbles a� ach to the lice and sound waves cause the bubbles to oscillate, eff ec� vely shaking the lice off the fi sh without stressing the fi sh themselves.
The funding, announced earlier this year, comes from EIT Food is one of the eight “innova� on communi� es” set up by the European Ins� tute for Innova� on & Technology (EIT). Its aim is to create a sustainable and future-proof food sector. FF
Proven to be 300% less stressful on pumped sh compared to traditional methods. Available with Straight, 90 degree Electric or Hydraulic Drive See us at Aquanor! Stand D-383
