{"id":12819,"date":"2021-06-28T08:27:37","date_gmt":"2021-06-28T07:27:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=12819"},"modified":"2021-08-11T08:53:41","modified_gmt":"2021-08-11T07:53:41","slug":"the-evolving-face-of-fish-welfare-in-the-aquaculture-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/the-evolving-face-of-fish-welfare-in-the-aquaculture-industry\/12819\/","title":{"rendered":"The evolving face of fish welfare in the aquaculture industry"},"content":{"rendered":"
The aquaculture industry is held to a high standard, driven by the ever-growing commercial consumption of fish. Due to this demand, the industry sets and maintains high production and performance goals. However, in order to fulfill commercial demand and maintain the viability of the industry aquaculture professionals must work to realise its potential and strive for an increased sustainable production of salmon at sea. To fulfill this demand, several key dilemmas facing the industry need to be solved, such as sea lice treatment and fish welfare which require immediate practical solutions to ensure the long-term profitability of seafood production.<\/p>\n
Norway has the world\u2019s strictest limits for salmon lice in aquaculture, but these restrictions mean that the industry is struggling to stay within the limits that have been set whilst still satisfying global demand. Previously, medical treatment helped keep the spread of sea lice under control, but the sea lice gradually developed a resistance to the drugs being used, severely reducing their efficiency and leading to a resurgence in sea lice within salmon farming. In light of this, the industry has had to adapt and develop alternative methods, such as freshwater treatments (in which the change in salinity kills the sea lice), water temperature treatment (in which the lower temperature causes the lice to become dormant and detach from the fish), and various other forms of mechanical removal of lice. However, these methods are not without their challenges, with several treatment methods commonly causing injuries and stress to the treated fish, leading in turn to increased mortality rates. These challenges have led to an uptake of preventative measures, such as cleaner fish and lice skirts, but these methods are not without their faults and can incur a significant extra cost.<\/p>\n
Flatsetsund (FLS) have specialised in aquacultural delousing for more than ten years and have gained considerable experience within the practicalities and realities of the industry. Salmon can be fragile, but they are a cornerstone of the global fishing industry. Therefore, our focus as we explore how innovation can breathe new life into aquaculture has always centered on the welfare of the fish.<\/p>\n