Management of Sea Lice

Fisheries and Oceans Canada takes sea-lice management issues very seriously and works closely with the Provinces and industry to seek solutions. Fisheries and Oceans Canada researchers work diligently to develop knowledge required to provide sound science advice on sea-lice dynamics, transmission routes between wild and farmed fish, impacts, monitoring programs and action thresholds, and other related management measures. Fisheries and Oceans Science supports increased understanding of potential impacts of sea-lice control methods on ecosystems and ways to reduce those impacts through judicious use of approved pesticides, as well as investigation of non-chemical sea-lice control methods.

Strong regulatory measures are set by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in British Columbia, and provinces elsewhere, aimed at reducing sea-lice levels on farms. In British Columbia, Fisheries and Oceans is continuing the sea-lice management strategy initiated by BC through conditions of licence on its salmon aquaculture licences.

Management of Sea Lice in British Columbia

In B.C., Fisheries and Oceans Canada is the lead federal agency for aquaculture and is responsible for permiting sustainable aquaculture while ensuring that aquaculture activities will not result in serious harm to fish (populations and habitat). Sea lice management is one element of fish health management that is of public interest. Sea lice levels are strictly monitored and managed to ensure the continued health and safety of farmed and wild fish.

Under the B.C. Aquaculture Regulatory Program, the Department manages:

• Mandatory monthly sea lice monitoring of farmed fish and documentation, including individual salmon observations, by both industry and Fisheries and Oceans Canada fish health staff. 
• The implementation of a Fish Health Management Plan (FHMP) as a condition of licence for all salmon farming companies.
• Sea lice audits of salmon farms conducted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and reported quarterly. The number of farms selected for audit is increased during the wild smolt out-migration period (March through June).
• Information collected on sea lice abundance from salmon farms, which is evaluated with environmental information and supports integrated management of sea lice populations on farms during wild stock out-migration.

Detailed results of industry sea lice counts.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Science branch also supports sea lice management by conducting aquaculture-specific research, monitoring wild salmon stocks and sea lice outside of salmon farm net pens and enforcing regulations relating to aquatic animal health.

All farmers of Atlantic salmon are required to monitor the abundance of sea lice on their farms at least once a month. At any given time, should the average motile lice per fish reach three, actions to reduce the abundance of lice must be taken. Since recent assessments of Pacific salmon farms indicate that few if any lice are found on farmed chinook and coho salmon, the monthly monitoring requirements continue to apply only to Atlantic salmon farms. Sea lice reduction actions may include:

• increased frequency of monitoring;
• harvesting of most affected populations, therefore reducing the numbers of lice at the farm;
• use of therapeutants to treat lice infestation; and/or
• applying other farm husbandry techniques to reduce the abundance of lice.

Ensuring a sustainable industry requires an ongoing commitment to scientific research

Recent Research:

• Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS)