PARR-2010-M-07
Potential effects of sea lice bath treatments on sensitive non-target organisms in southwest New Brunswick

This project will determine the potential effects of the bath treatments, AlphaMax^® and Salmosan^®, used to treat sea lice on farmed salmon on commercially important non-target organisms.  The toxicity of larval and adult lobster and sand shrimp will be determined by establishing the lethal threshold (24H LC50), and the no observable effects of concentration (NOEC).  Studies will be conducted to determine the response of adult lobsters to repeated short-term (pulsed) exposures to AlphaMax^® at three water temperatures (5°C, 10°C, and 15°C).  Acute studies will determine the long-term exposure of adult lobsters to low concentrations of the pesticide.  In conjunction with dye dispersion studies in southwest New Brunswick, water samples will be collected for toxicity testing with crustaceans.  The results from this work will provide guidance for the development of integrated pest management plan.

Principal investigator:  Les Burridge, DFO, St. Andrews Biological Station, 531 Brandy Cove Rd, St Andrews, NB E5B 2H7; Tel: 506-529-5890; Email: les.burridge@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

1-year project with 2-year continuation: PARR-2011-M-01