Proceedings 2015/004

Proceedings of the National Peer Review Meeting on Sea Lice Monitoring and Non Chemical Control Measures; September 25-27, 2012

Co-Chairpersons: Howard Powles and Jay Parsons
Editor: Joanne Liutkus

Summary

Many studies of sea lice biology, monitoring, control and management exist, which must be consolidated to provide managers with peer reviewed, robust science advice.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Aquaculture Management Directorate requested peer-reviewed science advice to support the optimization of sea lice management by non-chemical methods, including the development of integrated pest management, mitigation strategies and science-based conditions of license. This advice is required to support management decisions on issues such as thresholds/triggers, effective monitoring protocols and wild/cultured interactions related to sea lice. It is recognized that there are biophysical differences between salmon growing regions within Canada including species of sea lice, alternate hosts, oceanography, etc. These differences would also need to be considered when applying this science advice.

On September 25th to 27th, 2012, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) held a National Peer Review Process, in Ottawa, to develop scientific advice on the above questions.  The meeting reviewed six working papers concerning the biological aspects, monitoring and non-chemical management practices of sea lice.  There were 43 participants at the meeting and 5 joined by teleconference. Attendance (Appendix 1) spanned government, academia, industry and environmental non-governmental organizations.  The Terms of Reference for the meeting, developed by a Steering Committee, are included at the end of this report (Appendix 2).  

The Terms of Reference addressed ten objectives under three main groupings:

1. Population ecology and epidemiology of sea lice in Canadian waters,
2. Monitoring for sea lice on farmed and wild salmon in western and eastern Canada, and
3. Non-Chemical Measures for control and prevention.

Each of the working papers focussed on various aspects of these three areas.  One purpose of the peer review was to assess whether the conclusions presented in the review papers were scientifically robust and a fair summary of the current state of knowledge for the issues specified in the Terms of Reference.

The six working papers were circulated to meeting participants prior to the meeting. Each paper was formally reviewed by two expert reviewers who were asked to provide their reviews on the working document at the meeting, prior to an open discussion period.

Following discussion of the review papers, the meeting moved to a discussion of conclusions and advice relative to the Terms of Reference, to be summarised in a Science Advisory Report.

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