Cermaq Canada sees higher lice levels

NORWEGIAN salmon farmer Cermaq has reported that fish health in its Canada operation was impacted by sea lice challenges in the Clayoquot Sound region.
In the past quarter, sea lice levels at some farms in the region were higher than the same quarter last year, leading to a higher average lice count.
Use of sea lice treatment in feed in Canada increased to 0.3g of active ingredient in feed per tonne of live weight equivalent harvested.
Also, treatment with hydrogen peroxide was used and has been working effectively, said the company.
In Chile, sea lice counts dipped by more than 40 per cent compared with the same period last year, partly due to an increase in sea lice treatment. The antibiotics use by closed cycle for harvested fish decreased.
There was one fish escape in Cermaq Chile this quarter, where 21,584 fish escaped due to a predator attack.
Cermaq Norway sea lice counts were 0.03 adult female lice per fish, while sea lice bath treatment was not used.
The majority of farms have very good sanitary conditions and overall lice counts are maintained well below the regulatory limit of 0.5 average adult female lice per fish. Cermaq said.
There was no use of antibiotics by closed cycle for salmon harvested this quarter in Cermaq Norway.
Cermaq, a fully owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation, began publishing quarterly sustainability reports in 2016 in a drive for greater transparency.
The company believes transparency is important for the continuous improvement of performance, as well as for providing the basis for a good stakeholder dialogue.