Sea lice only a political problem for fish farmers in B.C.

Odd Grydeland Fourteen different types of sea lice are found on fish in the waters off British Columbia, including the Salmon Louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis. Lice are commonly found on wild salmon returning to coastal rivers to spawn. In a good year, some 30 million pink salmon will go up the Fraser River alone. Huge numbers of oceanic Sticklebacks have also been shown to carry large numbers of sea lice. Historically, salmon farmers have not had serious fish health problems associated with sea lice on their farmed stock. But due to a relentless campaign by environmental groups, fish farmers in B.C. now have to treat their fish regularly, at very low infection levels. Regulations established to protect wild salmon is forcing the salmon farmers to spend millions of dollars on treatments using the only medicine practically available. The veterinary community in B.C. is increasingly concerned that sea lice might develop resistance to the Emamectin Benzoate in Slice™, which now works well, but represents the only viable treatment option in B.C. Federal Fisheries Department scientists have not found any evidence of large scale impact on wild salmon due to sea lice from farmed fish, and studies are ongoing. ENGO’s are quoting Norwegian scientists who have been working with sea lice in Europe, where the problem with sea lice on wild stocks has been well documented.