Fitness consequences of bath exposure to hydrogen peroxide in salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis)
21-P-01
Description
There are concerns that sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) on farmed Atlantic salmon could harm wild stocks. This is of particular concern in British Columbia (BC) with wild Pacific salmon. There are many methods to help control sea lice on farmed fish, one being chemical treatments. Emamectin benzoate (SLICE®) is an in-feed treatment that was used from 2004 to 2013. SLICE® was effective at first, but some recent treatments have not worked. Sea lice have developed some resistance to SLICE® in certain locations. In 2015, hydrogen peroxide (H202) became available as a bath treatment for sea lice.
For this project, farmed salmon infected with sea lice will be treated with hydrogen peroxide. This will explore:
- the ability of sea lice to infect the salmon
- how well the sea lice survive the chemical treatment
- if the adult female sea lice can still reproduce after the treatment
Data collected from this project will help to understand how effective hydrogen peroxide is against sea lice in BC.
Program Name
Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP)
Year(s)
2021 - 2023
Principal Investigator(s)
Simon Jones, Research Scientist, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Biological Station, Pacific Region
Email: Simon.jones@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Team Member(s)
- Amy Long, Research Scientist, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Biological Station, Pacific Region
- Eliah Kim, Research Technician, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Biological Station, Pacific Region
Collaborator(s)
- Brian Kingzett, Science and Policy Director, The BC Salmon Farmers Association
- Peter McKenzie, Fish Health Director and Lead Veterinarian, Cermaq Canada
- Patrick Whittaker, Veterinarian, Grieg Seafood
- Date modified: