Medication should be the last resort
Novartis is developing a new drug against lice, based on the active substance lufenuron. The substance is closely related to the drugs diflubenzuron and teflubenzuron.
Ketil Rykhus, coordinator of FHLs (Fishery and Aquaculture Organization) efforts against lice, believes it is important to have drugs that work, but is determined that the drugs can no longer be the industry's main defence against sea lice.
"The industry has agreed that we should keep low sea lice levels without the use of drugs, but that we also should have effective drugs available. That means we need new drugs.
"Nevertheless, medicines must go from being the first choice to be the last choice. We must use medicines where they are needed. So far, the need for drugs are highest the second year at sea," says Rykhus.
