National Survey Of Sea Lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis Krøyer and Caligus elongatus Nordmann) on Fish Farms in Ireland – 2023
Author
D'Arcy, J.Kelly, Suzanne
McDermott, Tom
Casserly, Joanne
Power, Ayesha
Waters, Catherine
O’Donohoe, P.
Ruane, Neil M.
Keyword
Sea Licesea lice monitoring
Fish health
Fish farms
Salmonid
Caligus elongatus Nordmann
Lepeophtheirus salmonis Krøyer
Date
2024Publisher
Marine Institute
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Farmed stocks of Atlantic salmon in Ireland are inspected on 14 occasions throughout the year to monitor sea lice levels as part of a national programme. Sea lice are a naturally occurring parasite found on marine fish, including salmonids. They are small ecto-parasitic copepod crustaceans and there are approximately 559 species. The objectives of the National Sea Lice Monitoring Programme are:To provide an objective measurement of infestation levels on farms.
To investigate the nature of infestations.
To provide management information to drive the implementation of control and management strategies.
To facilitate further development and refinement of this strategy.
The sea lice control and management strategy has five principal components:
Separation of generations.
Annual fallowing of sites.
Early harvest of two-sea-winter fish.
Targeted treatment regimes, including synchronous treatments.
Agreed husbandry practices.