Resistant SEA-LICE threatening wild salmon stocks along the Norwegian coastline
Resistant sea-lice colonies have been found in several fish farms along the Norwegian west coast. The sea-lice colonies are a threat both to wild as well as farmed salmon.
The Norwegian Salmon Rivers Association (Norske Lakseelver), Norwegian Farmers Union (Norges Bondelag) and Norwegian Hunters and Anglers Association (Norges Jeger- og Fiskerforbund) are demanding that Helga Pedersen (Coast and Fisheries Secretary), introduces emergency procedures to finally end the sea-lice curse.
The salmon farming industry, as organised and run today, is not sustainable and the mentioned organisations challenge the Norwegian Government to increase the environmental safety measures and make the fish farming industry liable for any environmental pollution including the sea-lice resistance.
Sea-lice are a natural occurring parasite and individually harmless for salmon and sea-trout. However, in a fish farm pen, sea-lice are a constant problem because of the high density within a relatively small area. In such concentrations, with colonies of sea-lice, they emerge quickly as a threat to farmed salmon and wild salmon in the vicinity of the fish farm. Sea-lice cause feeding damage on the salmon that in worst-case scenario can lead to fatality.
The salmon smolts, leaving the rivers in the spring, are particularly vulnerable as only 10 sea-lice can cause fatality. Escaped farmed salmon is also a damaging factor in spreading the sea-lice.
Earlier this autumn, it was reported that sea-lice at a fish farm on the west coast, near the City of Bergen, had developed resistance from the chemical sea-lice treatment 'Slice'. It has also be reported resistance at four other fish farms in the same area and even further north along the coast. This has been confirmed by the Environment Agency. Hulda Bysheim says 'there is no duty to report such cases and we don't know which fish farms have been affected'.
Urgent situation
Norway has now a situation where resistant sea-lice continue to multiply along the coast. This can lead to an epidemic increase of resistant sea-lice. Such a situation can become a catastrophe for wild salmon and sea-trout and as a worst case scenario can lead to decimation of a number of wild salmon stocks. The Driva River has seen sea-trout decline by 90 % during the last few years and other rivers along the west coast have stopped all fishing for salmon and sea-trout. The famous Vosso River , in the same area, has experienced a catastrophically decline in its big salmon - practically no annual run of salmon.
The danger of resistant sea-lice can also cause an economical threat to the fish farming industry because sea-lice damage to the fish reduces the sales value. In Chile , the fish farming industry has no longer any effective sea-lice treatment and the sea-lice numbers in the pens are very high. This has caused dramatic negative consequences to the owners and the local societies. Tens of thousands of people have lost their jobs. A similar situation can develop in other fish farming countries i.e. Norway and Scotland
The said organisations demand that the Secretary for Coast and Fisheries immediately:
• Stop the licensing of 65 new fish farms until the sea-lice situation is controllable
• Introduces compulsory duty to report indications of resistant sea-lice
• Improve treatment procedures against sea-lice
• Develop alternative treatment and vaccination against sea-lice
• Increases the research programmes to develop enclosed fish farms at sea
Contact information
Torfinn Evensen - Norske Lakseelver: +47 45 02 16 37
Finn Erlend Ødegaard - Norges Bondelag: +47 92 85 84 95
Espen Farstad - NJFF: +47 90 72 24 29
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