Thyme oil instead of malachite green
According to experts from the Agriculture Innovation Foundation (FIA in Spanish), experimental testing of the use of Thyme (Thymus vugaris) oil for the treatment of fungal disease in salmon hatcheries is showing successful results. The fungus Saprolegnia sp. is the most common and prolific problem in incubation stage of salmon production. Following the ban of malachite green (an effective fungicide but hazardous to human health and banned in aquaculture practices worldwide), the mortality rates of eggs have reached record levels of 15 to 25%, costing the industry from US$ 3 to 4.5 million annually. Rodrigo Vega, executive director of the FIA states, “It is fundamental to prioritize cleaner production practices in aquaculture through the use of remedies found in medicinal plants, such as thyme in this case – an experience that benefits not only the salmon industry, but also drives the production of medicinal plants and increases the possibilities of development in their cultivation.” According to Visión Acuícola, the researchers involved in the project work through the Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, in collaboration with the private companies Cetecsal, Luxcamp and Nutriservice.
