Sea Lice Management Strategy 2004
Based on findings from the 2003
Broughton Archipelago Sea Lice Action Plan, the province developed the following approach for management of sea lice in salmon
farms in British Columbia.
Beyond the Broughton: Monitoring in 2004
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (MAFF) has
extended requirements for sea lice monitoring to include the entire
salmon farming industry. The on-farm sampling program is based on
internationally accepted standards for sea lice monitoring. The
industry will be required to report monitoring of lice on all farms
within specific fish health zones/areas.
This information will be evaluated along with
environmental information to support integrated area management of
farmed fish lice populations during wild stock migration.
A working group of fish health experts and
veterinarians responsible for management of aquaculture stocks has been
established to evaluate the information collected and the effectiveness
of the control measures taken. The group will work with Fisheries and
Oceans Canada to integrate wild fish information.
Results will be reported on a quarterly basis to
MAFF and will be posted on the MAFF website. MAFF will also be
conducting an auditing program with on-farm sampling of sea lice. This
audit will ensure validation of the data submitted from industry and
will be reported on the MAFF website. The ministry has hired two
fish health technicians for these activities.
Mandatory Sea Lice Monitoring
As of November 2003, all salmon farm sites must
have a Fish Health Management Plan. These plans are a condition of
licence and as such are enforceable. All companies must provide MAFF
with a plan for approval. The sea lice monitoring program is required as
part of the Fish Health Management Plan.
Sea Lice Research and Development
In 2003, the province funded an international science forum that
resulted in preparation of a white paper to identify research priorities
and management approaches to sea lice. The Science Council’s BC
Aquaculture Research and Development Committee supported four research
projects on sea lice.
Coordination and Communication on Sea
Lice Research
The province, federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans and industry
established a technical advisory team of scientists to evaluate the
information gathered from wild and farmed fish monitoring in the
Broughton in 2003. A preliminary overview of these studies will be
presented in a public forum in January 2004.
The technical advisory team will also continue to
evaluate and report out on information gathered during 2004.
Education and Training in Sea Lice
Identification
The province, the Centre for Aquatic Health
Sciences and North Island College are hosting a workshop on sampling and
identification of sea lice for industry and First Nations to improve
skills and support monitoring efforts.
Review of the 2003 Interim Sea Lice
Monitoring Program
Broughton Archipelago
In 2002, concern was expressed that a low return of
pink salmon was the result of infestation by sea lice (Lepeophtheirus
salmonis) during the Spring 2001 out-migration of their year-class
from the Broughton Archipelago.
In 2003, the province developed the Broughton Archipelago Sea Lice
Action plan. The plan recognized that multiple factors such as warm
weather, earlier record high populations and low water in salmon streams
could have contributed to a reduced pink salmon return in 2002 and that
sea lice levels on farms had to be assessed in the context of these
other factors.
The plan included on-farm monitoring to evaluate sea lice levels on
salmon farms and the possible implications for wild pink salmon stocks.
Studies were undertaken to look at the infestation rates and
intervention techniques for lice control at individual farm sites.
At the same time, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
undertook a survey of lice levels on wild salmonids and other finfish
species and number of juveniles emerging from area rivers.
The provincial plan was in place in time for the
2003 spring out-migration of juvenile pink salmon and included:
-
enhanced monitoring of farmed salmon,
-
surveillance of farm sea lice levels by
provincial staff,
-
coordination of treatment plans with farm
veterinarians based on number of sea lice collected in samples from
farms every two weeks,
-
opportunities for stakeholder and First Nations
observation of Ministry surveillance activities, and
-
in agreement with industry, leaving a number of
farms fallow along a suggested migration route as a contribution to
research efforts.
The monitoring program documented average lice
levels on farms and coordinated with veterinary professionals who were
monitoring and managing farm fish health.
Assessment of the data from salmon farms in 2003 showed that during
the spring migration of wild stock, lice levels on farmed salmon were
low compared to levels documented in Europe where intervention for lice
control was required. Industry strategically harvested certain size
categories of fish and treated farmed fish stocks to maintain low lice
levels and reduce any potential for impact to juvenile salmon in this
area.
Links
Updated: November 17, 2004 |
