Reduced use of chemicals in Camanchaca
Controlling sea lice levels in fish is a critical condition for the company –reports Salmones Camanchaca, because high lice abundances negatively affect the immune system of farmed fish. Therefore, the company performs weekly monitoring in all sites to maintain control and to define the proper timing for treatments.
The company used 4.71 gr of delousing chemicals per tonne LWE in 2014, which compares favorably to the 20.87 gr of delousing chemicals per tonne LWE used in 2013.
Likewise, Camanchaca says that their sanitary management plan includes periodic monitoring of all important pathogens, vaccination of 100 per cent of the smolts, functional feeds with specific diets depending on the production stage, and management of stress and environmental conditions.
“The sanitary management plan includes the use of antibiotics in those groups of fish that are sick and whose use is necessary to prevent mortality. Such treatments are primarily related to treat the disease Piscirickettsiosis (SRS)” the company commented.
The company used 420 gr of antibiotics per tonne LWE in 2014, which compares favorably to the 792 gr of antibiotics per tonne LWE used in 2013.
Additionally, the company together with the Association of the Chilean Salmon Industry (SalmonChile) and its members, is developing several research lines in order to reduce the use of antibiotics. Among the main lines of research are the development of effective vaccines, specific diets and genetic selection.
