Record sea temperatures bring salmon lice alert

Salmon companies have been put on alert by the authorities after almost a thousand delousing treatments were carried out. That figure is far higher than a year ago.

Some areas have experienced the highest temperatures so far recorded. It is generally accepted that the warmer the seas, the higher the number of lice – and coastal water temperatures have been on the up over the past couple of years.

The situation was particularly bad in the northerly fish farms where temperatures were worryingly high last year.

Bård Skjelstad, director of the aquaculture supervision division at the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, said it was important that the rapid escalation of lice problems is not viewed as an exceptional situation that opens up for changes in fish welfare priorities. 

“To solve the challenges, breeders must follow and respect the decisions of authorized animal health personnel regarding lice treatments,” he added.

It also appears that not all salmon farming areas of the country are fully geared up to deal with the problem.

Aquaculture vessel operators are operating flat out to deal with delousing operations with most of them unable to take on extra assignments at present.

Controlling salmon lice is the responsibility of the fish farming companies, the government has said.

The Food Safety Authority has warned it is working with the coastguard this autumn in carrying out unannounced inspections at fish farms.

This will include the inspection of salmon lice treatments, and follow-up on serious incidents in connection with delousing.